Europe on alert as first major heatwave of 2025 pushes temperatures to 42C
GuardianJUN 29
Record-Breaking Heat Wave in Europe
Above: People cool down under water fountains in the Madrid Rio entertainment area, Spain on June 28, 2025. Image copyright: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
While temperatures are certainly high, European authorities are responding effectively with comprehensive emergency measures including free cooling centers, work restrictions, and enhanced medical services. The continent's robust infrastructure and preparedness systems demonstrate that developed nations can successfully manage extreme weather challenges through proper planning and resource allocation.
Narrative B
This heat wave represents the new reality of climate change hitting Europe harder than anywhere else on Earth. Scientists have definitively linked these extreme temperatures to human-caused global warming, with Europe warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s. The continent must adapt quickly to protect vulnerable populations from increasingly deadly heat events.