Updated

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen described 2026's northern hemisphere summer as a 'summer of truth,' as record-shattering heatwaves scorched crops, emptied rivers and reservoirs, burned forests, warped train tracks and melted roads across the continent. The EU estimates the extreme heat killed about 35,000 people in Europe and caused roughly €180bn in damage, prompting criticism that politicians have been too timid or in denial about climate action. Knock-on effects continue to surface: the RAC warns UK roads face a surge in potholes because prolonged heat made surfaces brittle, and commentators point to Europe's crisis as a warning for other regions, noting that in Australia extreme heat has already caused more deaths between 2000 and 2018 than all bushfires, floods, storms and cyclones combined.