The World Meteorological Organization confirmed that the world will have to adapt to… Heat wavesWhile parts of Europe witness high temperatures at the beginning of the summer.

The United Nations organization said that people should expect “worse”, more frequent and more intense heat waves in the future due to climate change caused by human activity.

Record temperatures

The early heat wave hitting western and southern Europe is expanding northward, exposing millions of Europeans to unprecedented heat. Warnings of extreme heat, which the United Nations described as the “silent killer,” were issued in Portugal, Greece, Croatia, and Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The organization’s spokeswoman, Claire Nullis, pointed out that July was traditionally the hottest month in the world in the northern hemisphere, but recording severe waves at this early time in the summer remains exceptional, although not unprecedented.

She added in a press conference in Geneva that extreme heat is “widely called the silent killer,” especially since official statistics do not fully reflect the death toll as a result of it, unlike other climate phenomena such as hurricanes.

Nolis said, “Every death due to the heat is unnecessary. We have the knowledge, we have the tools, and we can save lives.”

She explained that the heat that Europe is experiencing is caused by a severe high pressure system. “This leads to the trapping of hot air coming from North Africa over the region, and this has a major impact on how we feel and how we behave,” she said.

One of the main factors of the heat wave remains the exceptional sea surface temperatures on average.

Nollis explained, “This is equivalent to a land-based heat wave. The Mediterranean is currently experiencing an intense marine heat wave, and this tends to enhance the maximum temperatures over the land area.”

The global organization said that early warnings and coordinated action plans are crucial to protecting public safety.

She also noted, “As a result of human-induced climate change, extreme temperatures are becoming more frequent and intense. This is something we have to learn to live with.”

She added: “What can we expect in the future? More of this is happening, or even worse.”

For its part, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies confirmed that its teams have mobilized their forces across the continent to help people in light of the heat waves.

“Volunteers distribute water and check up on vulnerable groups, including the homeless, the elderly, and outdoor workers,” union spokesman Tommaso della Longa said.

He believed that “extreme heat does not have to be a disaster. Knowledge, preparation, and early action make a difference.”