Britain, France experience record-level scorching hot weather
Europe is experiencing scorching hot weather as a result of climate change.
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This photo provided by the fire brigade of the Gironde region shows firefighters fighting a wildfire near Landiras, southwestern France, Sunday, July 17, 2022. (AP)
On Monday, Britain and France faced a scorching heatwave that hit record temperatures as Europe grapples with wildfires that have devoured forests in the process.
Britain, unprepared for extreme heat, saw temperatures climb up to 37.5 Celsius at Kew Gardens, southwest London by 3:00 pm.
Read next: Only 60 of 650 UK MPs will attend climate crisis briefing
Meteorologists are saying that the 40C mark could be, for the first time, surpassed by Tuesday, due to climate change. More frequent and intense episodes of extreme weather are on their way in the coming years, according to scientists.
A number of towns and cities across the Channel in France also recorded their highest ever temperatures on Monday, according to the national weather office.
The thermometer hit 39.3C in Brest on the Atlantic coast, compared with 2002, when it hit 35.1C.
Saint-Brieuc, on the Channel's coast, recorded a 39.5C temperature in comparison with a previous 38.1C record. Moreover, western Nantes recorded 42C, beating 40.3C in 1949.
Meteorologist Francois Gourand told AFP that "In some southwestern areas, it will be a heat apocalypse." Firefighters in the southwest of France were struggling to put down 2 massive fires that have created apocalyptic scenes of destruction.
Forecasters have alerted 15 French departments on the highest state of alert for extreme temperatures.
The Netherlands will also be witnessing record temperatures, with warnings that the mercury will reach 39C on Tuesday, whereas Belgium will also be seeing 40C and more.
Read more: Spain issues high alert in heatwave-hit areas
Last month, US government data revealed that carbon dioxide levels have increased to become 50% higher than in the pre-industrial era. This, according to US government data, pushed the planet and will continue to do so in coming years into conditions that have not existed for millions of years.
Based on the data collected by scientists, the world may still delve into radical climate tragedies despite all efforts to curb carbon emissions. That is, in the best-case scenario, if governments manage to contain carbon emissions, the world will still be at risk of a roll-balling climate crisis.
Today, the world is far away from the best-case scenario since global governments continue to fail at decreasing planet-heating levels.
