United Kingdom, India... Which other countries are affected by the heatwave?

A searing heatwave gripping Western Europe, including France, serves as a "brutal reminder" of the escalating consequences of climate change, according to the UN Climate Change head Simon Stiell. He stressed the urgent need to accelerate the shift towards clean energy sources, attributing the extreme weather to the world's reliance on fossil fuels and deforestation.

Meteorologists note that climate change is increasing the likelihood and intensity of such heat events, potentially making them more frequent and occurring earlier in the year. France has recorded unprecedented temperatures for this time of year, with the national thermal indicator reaching 24.9°C on Tuesday. The United Kingdom also experienced its hottest May day on record, with London hitting 35.1°C. Camborne recorded a new minimum temperature record for May, with the night not dropping below 21.4°C.

While the general mechanism behind these heatwaves is similar, the specific phenomena developing in different meteorological contexts. India and other parts of Asia are also suffering under intense heat, with temperatures reaching 47.4°C in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. The Indian government has urged citizens to conserve water.

Stiell highlighted that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East further underscores the "exorbitant costs of dependence on fossil fuel imports." He reiterated that the solutions are clear: a more rapid transition to clean energy is essential to mitigate the impacts of climate change and prevent future extreme weather events.