Climate change under pressure: Life in Europe threatened by heat wave!

Climate change under pressure: Life in Europe threatened by heat wave!

The current heat wave in Europe is not only making life miserable for many people, but also poses a serious threat to basic human rights. UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk made the comments during a discussion at UN Human Rights Council in Geneva urgently about the connection between climate change and the fundamental right to life. “The climate crisis is a human rights crisis,” he explained, emphasizing the need for adaptation measures.

Southern Europe is currently particularly affected, where temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius are forecast due to persistent heat waves. In France, heat warnings have been issued for 84 of 101 departments. Environment Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher described the situation as unprecedented, while around 200 schools were forced to close due to the heat. These extreme temperatures are also imminent in Germany; The German Weather Service expects the hottest day of the summer with similar temperatures in the middle of the week.

Forest fires and consequences of heat

The heat not only poses health risks, but also poses the risk of forest fires. Large forest fires have broken out near Narbonne in France, leading to the evacuation of the campsite and Fontfroide Abbey. More than 150 firefighters are on duty, but winds are making extinguishing work more difficult. In Turkey, emergency services are fighting 77 forest fires that were fueled by unusually high temperatures.

These developments cannot be viewed in isolation. Türk pointed to the long-term consequences of climate change, which are already leading to rationing of drinking water in Spain and threatening coastal residents in Honduras, whose livelihoods are at risk from storm surges. Particularly vulnerable groups such as poor people, indigenous communities and older citizens are severely affected, while forecasts could even lead to 14.5 million deaths by 2050 World Bank studies show.

Demands and responsibility

Türk calls on the states to take decisive action. The previous commitments made at the COP28 climate conference to reduce fossil fuels must be implemented urgently. “This requires an end to the production and use of fossil fuels,” said Türk, who also criticized the responsibility of the fossil fuel industry. This industry not only spreads misinformation, but also greenwashing to distract from the true impact.

The question remains whether states and companies are living up to their responsibilities. Since 2008, the UN Human Rights Council has repeatedly pointed out the human rights consequences of climate change. Only through decisive action could the global community comply with human rights obligations in the long term and find a way out of the climate crisis. The current developments should make us all think, because it's not just about the weather - it's about our future.