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    Op-Ed                                                                    JUNE 05, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 12

                       Global Warming: Intensifying

             Heatwaves and What Is a Way Out

               As record-breaking temperatures sweep across continents, experts warn that extreme heat is

                              becoming the “new normal” unless climate action accelerates globally.

                    ASHISH K TRIPATHI                                                                             tent with global warming projections.
                                                                                                                  Rising average temperatures in-
                  he rising intensity of heatwaves                                                                crease the likelihood of extreme heat
                  across Europe and India is no                                                                   events, while also intensifying their
            Tlonger being seen as isolated                                                                        duration and geographic reach. What
            weather anomalies but as part of a                                                                    was once considered a “once-in-a-de-
            broader climate pattern increasing-                                                                   cade” event is increasingly occurring
            ly linked to global warming. From                                                                     multiple times within a single season.
            record-breaking temperatures in                                                                          Yet the question remains wheth-
            London and Paris to life-threatening                                                                  er there is a way out. Policy respons-
            heatwave conditions in Delhi and                                                                      es are emerging, but unevenly. In
            Uttar Pradesh, the convergence of                                                                     India, measures such as heat action
            scientific warnings, government advi-                                                                 plans, public hydration campaigns,
            sories, and lived experience points to                                                                and urban cooling initiatives reflect
            a warming planet reshaping daily life.                                                                an attempt to adapt. In Europe,
                In India, the severity of the sit-                                                                emergency responses and public
            uation has prompted direct appeals                                                                    health warnings are becoming more
            from the highest level of government.                                                                 frequent. However, adaptation alone
            Prime  Minister  Narendra  Modi,  in                                                                  may not be sufficient if global emis-
            a post on X cited by ANI on May     Without significant reductions, heatwaves are expected to intensify further, placing additional   sions continue to rise.
            27, urged citizens to adopt basic but   pressure on health systems, labour productivity, agriculture, and urban infrastructure (File photo)
            critical precautions as temperatures                                                                  The  underlying issue remains
            surged across the country. “Tem-
            peratures are continuously rising in   across multiple countries. According   Centre at Maynooth University,  structural: greenhouse gas
            different parts of the country, and   to reporting compiled from inter-  was quoted by the Financial Times   emissions driving global tem-
            along with this, the many difficulties   national agencies, temperatures in   describing Europe’s temperature
            caused by the heat in daily life are   London reached 35.1°C at Kew Gar-  spikes as “mind-bogglingly crazy.”  perature increases. Without
            also increasing,” he said, calling on   dens, breaking a long-standing May   The physical mechanism behind   significant reductions, heat-
            people to “keep yourselves hydrated   record. The Associated Press noted   the European heatwave—a “heat
            and carry water with you when step-  that this was accompanied by a rare   dome,” where warm air becomes  waves are expected to inten-
            ping out of your homes” and to ex- “tropical night,” when temperatures   trapped under high pressure sys-  sify further, placing additional
            tend help to those in need.       did not fall below 20°C.          tems—illustrates how natural vari-
                At the local governance level,    The heatwave was not confined   ability is being amplified by long-term  pressure on health systems,
            mitigation efforts are being scaled up.  to the UK. France, Spain, and other   warming trends. As warm air from   labour productivity, agriculture,
            Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharakwal    parts  of  Western  Europe  recorded   northern Africa became trapped
            said that the city has launched multi-  unusually high early-summer tem-  over western Europe, temperatures  and urban infrastructure.
            ple relief measures under heatwave   peratures.  In  France’s  south-west,  surged  rapidly,  breaking  historical
            conditions, including “green sheets   temperatures reached 36°C, while   records within days.             The  convergence  of  scientific
            and showers” at traffic intersections   night-time readings remained above   The  comparison between Eu-  consensus, government warnings, and
            to protect commuters. She said,  20°C across large parts of the coun-  rope and India reveals a shared   lived experience suggests that the
            “We’ve  created cooling  points  and   try. French newspaper Libération de-  vulnerability despite vastly different   world is entering a new climatic phase.
            drinking water facilities  at  various   scribed the situation as “it has never   geographies and development con-  The heatwaves affecting Europe and
            locations. The Municipal Corpora-  been so hot, so early, in France,” re-  texts. In both regions, heatwaves   India are not isolated disruptions but
            tion is making every effort to ensure   flecting growing alarm even in tradi-  are becoming more frequent, more   signals of a larger systemic shift.
            there are no shortages anywhere.”  tionally temperate climates.     intense, and more disruptive. How-    The way out, experts suggest, lies
            The initiative reflects how urban ad-  Scientists and climate experts   ever, the capacity to respond varies   in a dual approach: urgent mitigation
            ministrations are increasingly forced   have increasingly linked such ex-  significantly, with India relying heav-  of emissions and large-scale adapta-
            to adapt infrastructure to extreme   tremes to global warming. One ex-  ily on emergency advisories and local   tion of societies to withstand rising
            heat rather than treat it as a seasonal   pert, cited in the European coverage,  adaptation measures, while Europe   temperatures.
            inconvenience.                    stated it was “beyond a shadow of   confronts unprecedented tempera-    Without this balance, extreme
                While India struggles with pro-  a  doubt” that climate change was   ture spikes in infrastructure designed   heat may continue to redefine sum-
            longed  heat  stress,  Europe  has  si-  making heat events “more likely and   for milder climates.   mers across continents, turning re-
            multaneously experienced a searing   more severe.” Peter Thorne, director   Climate scientists have long   cord-breaking events into recurring
            heatwave that shattered records   of the ICARUS Climate Research    warned that such patterns are consis-  realities.

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