Climate Change, Heatwaves, and the Growing Cost of Inaction – A Wake-Up Call from Europe
- Cathy Whittall
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 30
Published by Keder Greenhouse | July 9, 2025
This summer, Europe has found itself once again in the crosshairs of a brutal heatwave - only this time, the scientific link between heat-related deaths and climate change is clearer than ever.
A rapid heat death attribution study released today by the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, delivers sobering findings: climate change tripled the number of heat-related deaths in early summer across European cities. For those of us in agriculture, horticulture, and environmental design, this isn’t just a scientific headline - it’s a signal that demands attention and action.
“Earth is like an oven…”
As Dr. Akshay Deoras, Research Scientist at the University of Reading, put it:
“Think of the Earth like an oven. In the past, heatwaves were like turning the oven up for a short burst. But with climate change, it is as if we have permanently set the oven to a higher temperature.”
This analogy hits home. Whether you're a farmer managing a delicate crop cycle, or a city planner struggling to maintain habitable urban conditions, you're now operating in a system where baseline temperatures are higher, risks are more severe, and the margin for error has narrowed.
The study leaves no doubt, the June 2025 heatwave wasn’t just bad luck - it was supercharged by fossil fuel emissions. Without urgent cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, we’re on a trajectory for more frequent and deadlier heat events. Meaning more than discomfort; more lives lost, infrastructure strained, and systems pushed to the brink.
65% of Heatwave Deaths are Caused by Humans
Dr. Chloe Brimicombe of the Royal Meteorological Society pointed out that:
“65% of heatwave deaths in the last European heatwave can be linked to human-induced climate change… Reducing emissions… could save lives.”
This isn't hypothetical. Cities across Europe - Paris, Madrid, London - are seeing the consequences in real-time. Vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected, especially those in urban heat islands where green cover is sparse, and heat lingers longer. It’s a crisis of climate justice as much as climate science.
A Complex Web of Impacts
The heat doesn’t just hurt people. It puts pressure on transport, energy, food systems, and public health services. Rising temperatures threaten food security by stressing crops, damaging greenhouse environments, and reducing productivity. At Keder Greenhouse, we’re seeing more growers ask for climate-resilient growing systems - not just for higher yields, but to protect their livelihoods from the extremes.
As Dr. Brimicombe highlighted, heatwaves also:
Increase wildfire risks
Affect newborns and breastfeeding mothers
Drive more people into hospitals
Contribute to economic instability
It’s not a linear crisis - it’s a web of escalating risks.
What Can Be Done?
Prof. Richard Allan, a climate scientist at the University of Reading, was blunt:
“A warming climate sure as hell makes heatwaves worse… It is only with rapid and massive cuts in greenhouse gases… that worsening of weather extremes can be reined in.”
He suggested a path forward: we must adapt. That means:
Building resilient infrastructure
Investing in early warning systems
Creating cooler urban environments with more greenery and water
For agriculture and horticulture - investing in climate-smart growing solutions
At Keder Greenhouse, we believe that protected cropping systems are part of that solution. Our structures help growers manage temperature extremes, shield crops from erratic weather, and reduce water loss during dry spells - all while lowering emissions with passive solar design and sustainable materials.
Conclusion - A Silent Pressure
As Dr. Brimicombe so eloquently said:
“Heatwaves silently pressure our society. For some individuals, this is now from before birth to the day they die.”
This new study is a call to action. Not just for scientists or policymakers - but for growers, designers, builders, and everyday citizens. Climate change isn’t a distant threat; it’s here. The systems we build today - greenhouses, cities, farms, policies - will shape how well we survive and thrive in the climate of tomorrow.
Let’s use this knowledge not as a reason for despair, but as a rallying point for resilience. Keder Greenhouse stands with those innovating for a more sustainable future.
Climate Change, Heatwaves and Inaction
Sources
To read the full scientific release, visit www.sciencemediacentre.org
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