Copernicus lead warns extreme heat measures needed or deaths to ensue

The assessment by the Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Carlo Buontempo, on the current heatwave hitting Europe is clear.

“There’s a clear need to develop strategies to cope with these extremes (as) they have the potential to kill us,” Buontempo warned.

He made the comments on Euronews’ flagship morning programme Europe Today on Friday — a day where extreme weather warnings have been issued for France, Belgium, Germany and Britain, following half-a-week of soaring temperatures sizzling capitals and citizens.

These increased temperatures are “a natural consequence of the fact that the world is warming up”, Buontempo said. These temperatures have affected the “frequency, intensity, duration, and onset” of heatwaves.

The climate expert hailing from the Bonn-based research centre called on both cities and citizens to act, arguing that the design of the former must improve and that it is key to develop “habits and actions” on a personal level to keep us cool and safe.

Buontempo said these solutions could “reduce heat-related mortality, which has gone up in Europe by 30% in the last 20 years.”

What has also gone up massively, he said, is the number of cities that have a climate adaptation plans. This includes larger greener areas, more insulated houses, and changing opening hours of businesses and offices.

“For many cities we are not there yet, but for many others at least we have now a plan and it is not abstract. It is affecting us today in our backyard,” Buontempo added.

Asked whether the EU should take action and establish a single policy approach to address global warming, he said that there is not a one-size fits all solution. But there is an opportunity to learn from partners.

“We should do more in that respect,” he said, adding: “What people do in Athens could be applied to Copenhagen.”

On where the limit lies in terms of rising temperatures, Buontempo maintained that they “will continue to go up even if we were to stop emissions tomorrow, which we are not.”

Despite the gloom and gloom of climate change, he said knowledge is power.

“We can use this information, which is open and free for everyone. If we didn’t have it, we would be blind and facing a bigger risk,” Buontempo said.

Watch today’s episode of Europe Today in full.