July 18, 2023 - Millions face extreme heat in the US, Europe and China

As extremely high temperatures are set to intensify over southern Europe, the current heat wave has "undoubtedly" brought the climate crisis closer to home for many people. It has turned Italy and nearby countries into a "giant pizza oven,” according to scientist statements compiled by the UK-based Science Media Centre.

“The hot air which pushed in from Africa is now staying put, with settled high pressure conditions meaning that heat in warm sea, land and air continues to build," Cloke explained.

Simon Lewis, the chair of global change science he University College London, warned that “this is just the beginning,” and pointed out that this summer’s weather extremes are happening as the planet has warmed 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels — still short of the 1.5-degree threshold scientists are pleading with society to stay under. 

"Current policies globally have us hitting 2.7 degrees (Celsius) warming by 2100. That’s truly terrifying,” Lewis said in a statement. “As scientists agreed last year: There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all."

Scientists have warned for decades that the climate crisis would supercharge extreme heat, which was already among the deadliest weather phenomena.

“(Heat waves) are occurring more frequently and are becoming more intense and are resulting in infrastructure breakdown, human health issues and fatalities, drought and water shortages and we are not currently prepared for these types of events,” said Melissa Lazenby, a senior lecturer in climate change at the University of Sussex. 

“We are moving out the usual and well-known natural oscillations of the climate to unchartered and more extreme territory," she added.

Blisteringly high temperatures are expected to endure across the globe, breaking records on multiple continents, as experts urge world leaders to act now on the climate crisis.

More high temperatures are expected across parts of southern Europe this week, as the continent braces for its second extreme heat wave, putting people’s health at risk and setting the stage for wildfires. Italy, Spain and Greece have already faced unrelenting heat for days, but the European Space Agency has warned the heat wave is just beginning. 

Parts of China and the United States have also been experiencing soaring temperatures, while swathes of Asia are battling deadly flooding.

Here's what you need to know:

More than 20 daily high temperature records were tied or broken across the United States on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Here are some notable records: 

Over 65 million people are now under heat alerts from Florida to California and north to Kansas. 

Blisteringly high temperatures are expected to continue across parts of southern Europe this week, as the continent braces for its second extreme heat wave, putting people’s health at risk and setting the stage for wildfires.

Last week’s “Cerberus” heat wave is making way for another, which Italian weather forecasters have named “Charon” — the ferryman in Greek mythology who carries souls to the underworld.

Italy, Spain and Greece have already faced unrelenting heat for days, but the European Space Agency has warned that the heat wave is only just beginning.

As a high-pressure anticyclone pushes up from North Africa, temperatures in Europe are expected to come close to, or even breach, the continent’s record of 118.4 degrees Fahrenheit (48.8 degrees Celsius) set in 2021, according to the ESA.

In Italy, which has been particularly hard hit, temperatures in many cities are expected to soar above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). On Sunday, Italian authorities issued an “extreme” health risk warning for 16 cities including Rome and Florence.

In Greece, where temperatures have risen above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), authorities were forced to close the Acropolis in Athens during the day on Friday and again over the weekend.

In Spain, temperatures in the cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).

The heat has also primed the land for fires: Wildfires on the island of La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands, which started on Saturday morning, have burned through 4,650 hectares (11,490 acres), destroying 20 houses and forcing the emergency evacuation of thousands of people, according to a Reuters report.

In Greece, nearly 550 firefighters were working to stop 81 wildfires on Monday across the country, including four major ones, with 198 fire engines, 23 aircraft and 18 helicopters, Greece's Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilia said.

Climbing temperatures in southern Europe have helped prime the land for wildfires, which have broken out in Greece, Italy and Spain.

The fires have destroyed houses and prompted the evacuation of thousands of people.

Greece's Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias warned that Tuesday will be another "difficult" day and urged caution over dozens of wildfires.

Heavy rain has damaged dozens of cultural heritage sites in South Korea, the country's Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said Tuesday.

At least 41 sites, mostly in the central and southern parts of the country, suffered damage including wall collapses, missing roof tiles and broken tree branches, the administration said. 

In North Gyeongsang province, heavy rain damaged the grounds of the Buseoksa Buddhist temple, and in South Jeolla province, Seonam Temple reported missing roof tiles and wall collapses. The two temples are among seven Buddhist mountain monasteries known as the Sansa, registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In South Chungcheong province, the Baekje Historic Areas — a UNESCO-listed group of monuments located in the cities of Gongju, Buyeo and Iksan — also reported damage. Among those, the Gongsanseong Fortress flooded and part of the wall collapsed after heavy rain, according to the administration. The Buyeo Royal Tombs — ancient tombs of the Baekje dynasty from the 6th century — also reported missing topsoil.

As of Tuesday, at least 41 people have died and nine people remain missing as a result of heavy rain across South Korea, according to the Ministry Interior and Safety. 

Top United Kingdom-based climate advisory group, the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), has stressed the “hell” of heat waves is being experienced worldwide. 

In Europe, last week’s "Cerberus" heat wave is making way for another, which Italian weather forecasters have named "Charon" — the ferryman in Greek mythology who carries souls to the underworld.

Meanwhile, parts of China and the United States have also been experiencing soaring temperatures, causing great discomfort for millions of people.

Redmond-King pointed to the “globalized” and interconnected nature of the climate crisis, highlighting how the extreme weather in southern Europe is also impacting countries such as the UK experiencing cooler weather. 

Extreme heat and droughts and torrential rain have greatly hampered food production in “climate vulnerable” countries. Less vulnerable countries such as the UK that rely on these nations for exports will also suffer as a result, Redmond-King added. 

The world’s largest and most populous continent is reckoning with the deadly effects of extreme summer weather, as countries endure blistering heat waves and record monsoon rainfall, with governments warning residents to prepare for more to come.

This month torrential rains inundated parts of Japan, China, South Korea and India, upending the lives of millions and causing flash floods, landslides and power cuts. Record temperatures also led to a rise in heat-related illnesses, particularly among vulnerable communities such as the elderly.

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US climate envoy John Kerry said the world is looking at Washington and Beijing for “leadership” on the climate crisis, and expressed hope that his visit to China can be the start of a new kind of cooperation between both countries. 

“Our hope is now that this can be the beginning of a new definition of cooperation and capacity to resolve the differences between us,” Kerry said, adding that while real differences exist between both sides, “we also know from experience, if we work at it, we can find the path ahead and ways that resolve these challenges.” 

Wang then stressed the need for a “healthy, stable and sustainable bilateral relations” for climate change cooperation to go well.