Extreme heat is a killer. A recent heat wave shows how much more deadly its becoming as humans warm the world
CNNJUL 9
Study: Climate Change Tripled European Heat Wave Deaths
Above: People use umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun during a heat wave in Athens, Greece, on July 8, 2025. Image copyright: Costas Baltas/Anadolu/Getty Images
The Spin
Climate-concerned narrative
This heatwave highlights the deadly reality of climate change that's already killing thousands across Europe. The fossil fuel industry's continued pollution is a death sentence for vulnerable populations, particularly older adults, who make up nearly 90% of victims. Oil and gas corporations must be held financially accountable through taxes and fines to cover the soaring health costs their emissions incur.
Climate-skeptic narrative
The recent European heatwave was primarily caused by natural weather patterns, with global warming playing only a modest role in the extreme temperatures. The more extreme a weather event, the greater the contribution of natural variability versus human-caused warming. The high-pressure ridge system responsible for the heat shows no evidence of being caused by global warming, which cannot be attributed to human activities.