Description

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Context:

Europe is the fastest-warming continent as it is witnessing an average temperature rise of around 0.5 degrees Celsius per decade compared to 0.2 degrees Celsius globally.

Introduction:

Europe is confronting an alarming climate crisis: it is warming at about 0.5 °C per decade—more than double the global average of 0.2 °C. The severe heatwave that began in late June 2025 has shattered temperature records, led to wildfires, overwhelmed public health systems, and claimed lives across the continent.

Causes of Rising Extreme Heat:

Factor	Explanation
Polar Amplification	Arctic ice melt reduces albedo, increasing solar absorption and accelerating regional warming, especially in nearby Europe.
Double Jet Stream Pattern	Increased frequency of double jet streams traps high-pressure zones over Europe, causing prolonged heatwaves.
Soil Moisture Feedback	Hotter conditions dry out soils, reducing evaporative cooling and amplifying heat in a feedback loop.
Cleaner Air, Less Aerosol Cooling	Decline in aerosols due to cleaner air reduces sunlight reflection, paradoxically increasing surface warming.
Marine Heatwaves	Warmer Mediterranean and nearby seas add heat and moisture to the atmosphere, intensifying continental heat events.

The Ongoing 2025 Heatwave

Category	Details
Record Temperatures	Spain: 46 °C in HuelvaFrance: 40 °C in Paris (schools and Eiffel Tower summit closed), Italy: 37–38 °C in Rome, Milan
	Over 200 red warnings issued in Central/Eastern Europe
Human & Infrastructure Impact	8 confirmed deaths, including a child. Hospitals are overwhelmed, Power grids are strained, and rolling disruptions
Wildfires & Ecosystem Stress	Forest fires in Turkey, Greece, Portugal, and Italy, ~50,000 evacuated in Turkey and Crete
	Drought in Central Europe, Alpine glaciers are melting at elevations as low as 16,850 ft freezing point

Long-Term Implications

Public Health Crisis: Heatwaves exacerbate heatstroke, chronic illnesses, and mental health stress, especially among the elderly, infants, manual laborers, and vulnerable populations.
Energy & Water Security: Overheated power plants struggle to cool; water reservoirs shrink. Drought pressures depress river flows, impacting agriculture and hydropower.
Infrastructure Threats: Roads buckle, rail tracks warp, and cities without widespread cooling systems (e.g., many in Europe) find residents unprepared.

Policy & Adaptation Strategies

Heat Preparedness Planning: Classify heatwaves akin to other disasters, activate alerts, and deploy cooling centres. Schools and businesses adjust hours accordingly.
Early Warning & Response: Expand meteorological forecasting and public health alerts. Local authorities mobilise heat action plans targeting at-risk groups.
Urban Resilience: Increase green spaces, shade structures, reflective surfaces; combat urban heat island effects. Retrofit buildings with insulation and passive cooling techniques.
Cross-border Collaboration: Share best practices in wildfire management, hydrological forecasting, and climate adaptation across the EU to improve response capabilities.
Mitigation of Emissions: As extreme heat becomes the new normal, ambitious emission cuts—aiming for Paris targets—must remain central to avert future climate breakdown.

Significance for India

Drawing Parallels: Like Europe, India faces intensifying heat waves and heat-island effects. Lessons from Europe's urban adaptation and early warning systems are instructive.
UN & Global Context: The UN’s World Meteorological Organization terms these events a “new normal”—India must scale its early warning systems and resilience planning.

Europe’s early-summer 2025 heatwave—record-breaking temperatures, mounting fatalities, wildfires, and infrastructure breakdowns—highlights a stark reality: extreme heat is now routine. Rooted in polar warming, atmospheric dynamics, soil-moisture feedbacks, and anthropogenic emissions, it demands urgent mitigation and profound adaptation. For India and global planners, the message is clear: accelerating resilience measures today is crucial to managing the climate emergencies of tomorrow.

Source: Reuters

Ndtv.com

Ft.com

Indian Express

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Europe is experiencing heat waves with increasing frequency and intensity. Discuss the underlying climatic factors responsible and evaluate the long-term implications for global climate policy, regarding India. (250 words).