Europe’s severe June heatwave ‘virtually impossible’ 50 years ago, climate scientists say

A man cools off at Trocadero fountain near the Eiffel Tower during a heat wave in Paris, June 24, 2026. © Christophe Ena, AP

Europe’s record heatwave in the month of June would have been "virtually impossible" 50 years ago, scientists said Friday, proof that human-caused climate change is "unequivocally" responsible for the intensity of the latest scorcher. Half-a-century ago, a similar heatwave would have been 3.5°C cooler, the study found.

Human-caused climate change is "unequivocally" responsible for the intensity of a record-breaking heatwave scorching Europe, scientists said Friday.