Heat waves will become more frequent. The trend is expected to continue until 2060, according to the United Nations. Temperatures above 40 degrees should be a huge alarm signal for countries that are increasingly sending carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, says the UN’s Global Meteorological Organization (WMO).
“They are becoming more frequent and that negative trend will continue until at least 2060, regardless of the success of our climate action,” WMO chief Petteri Taalas said at a news conference in Geneva.
“Climate change has started us breaking records. In the future, these kinds of heat waves will become normal and we will see even greater extremes.”
“Greenhouse gas emissions are still increasing. It’s not even certain that the peak will be reached in 2060 if we don’t manage to reverse it, especially in the major Asian countries with the highest emissions,” Taalas added.
Over 40 degrees in England for the first time
The WMO held a meeting about the prevailing heat wave in Western Europe. In England, the mercury rose above 40 degrees for the first time on Tuesday. Last year the European heat record was broken: 48.8 degrees was measured on the southern Italian island of Sicily.
“We expect the heat wave to peak today in France, the United Kingdom and perhaps Switzerland,” said Robert Stefanski, the director of the WMO’s climate service. “And the question everyone is asking is when will this finally be over. Looking at all the weather models, maybe not before the middle of next week.”
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