UN warns of more frequent heatwaves into at least the second half of this century

The current heatwave should act as a wake-up call for countries, the UN's World Meteorological Organization said. © Reuters/Stephane Mahe

Heatwaves, like the one that has been stifling western Europe this week, are becoming more frequent, and the trend is set to continue until at least the 2060s, the United Nations warned.

"[Heatwaves] are becoming more frequent and this negative trend will continue... at least until the 2060s, independent of our success in climate mitigation efforts," Petteri Taalas, head of the UN's World Meteorological Organisation, told a press conference in Geneva Tuesday.