Was the Heat of This Summer Really 'Normal'?

The summer of 2022 has been characterized by unprecedented heat across Europe, with Germany alone recording around 14,000 heat-related deaths. A Dutch bank estimated the summer heat to cost the EU €180 billion in lost GDP. Farmers experienced significant losses, with approximately 9 million tons of grain crops destroyed. Despite these stark realities, political figures, particularly within the global populist right, have dismissed climate change, describing the summer heat as "normal" or "business as usual."

However, scientific evidence overwhelmingly refutes these claims. NASA, NOAA, Copernicus Climate Change Service, and Japan Meterological Agency all confirmed the summer of 2022 as either the joint-warmest or joint-second warmest on record. The extreme heat caused infrastructure issues, energy plant shutdowns, and health risks associated with heat stress.

This summer's wildfires in Spain, France, and Canada were exacerbated by climate change, making them 20 times more likely in Spain and twice as probable in France. Additionally, European rivers like the Rhine, Danube, and Po have reached historically low levels, affecting shipping, water supply, and causing economic disruptions.

In the United States, drought conditions have severely impacted crops, livestock, and food supply, leading to increased prices and rural livelihood risks.