Europe heat wave 'virtually impossible' without human impact

Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed. Follow along for more through the day and this week for the on the June 2026 European heat wave:  Skip next section European heat wave ‘virtually impossible’ without man-made climate changePublished 06/26/2026Published June 26, 2026last updated 06/26/2026last updated June 26, 2026European heat wave ‘virtually impossible’ without man-made climate change Europe's record-breaking heat wave would have been "virtually impossible" without climate change, according to a rapid study published on Friday by the World Weather Attribution group. The researchers said the extreme temperatures are now up to 200 times more likely than just two decades ago. Millions across France, Italy, Spain and the UK have faced temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), with high nighttime heat preventing recovery. Researchers said a similar event in 1976 would have been around 3.5C cooler . The study found that nearly half of the 850 cities analyzed across Europe have reached or are expected to reach record heat-stress levels, combining temperature and humidity. How Europeans cope with the record-breaking heat wave To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "Scientists like me are beginning to sound like a broken record," said Friederike Otto, professor of climate science at Imperial College London. "We put out similar quotes year after year, reacting to heat extremes that climb ever higher." "Yes, this is climate change, yes, it's us, no, it's not El Nino. Yes, we have the solutions. No, we're not implementing them fast enough." https://p. dw. com/p/5G5g0 Skip next section We're resuming our coverage06/26/2026June 26, 2026We're resuming our coverage Join us on this sweltering Friday morning as we resume our coverage of the record-breaking heat wave still gripping Europe. A new rapid study found that nearly half of the 850 cities analyzed across Europe have reached or are expected to reach record heat-stress levels, combining temperature and humidity. Researchers say the current heat is 200 times more likely now than just 20 years ago — and this is due to global warming. Meanwhile, a ban on public consumption of alcohol is due to go into effect in Paris from midday. As you know, drinking alcohol with the sun beating down can have a devastating effect," Paris police chief Patrice Faure told French media.  Faure said we are "reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities," while adding that the "number of hospitalizations keeps increasing." The order prohibits public booze consumption from noon on Friday to 7 a. m.