Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced the "New Heatwave Program" for Europe in her opening speech on Wednesday. This announcement follows a challenging summer filled with widespread wildfires and agricultural losses.
Summer Challenges and the Need for Urgent Action
Von der Leyen described the summer as the "summer of truth" and referred to the burning of hundreds of thousands of hectares of land, crop losses, and over 35,000 excess deaths. She told EU representatives in Strasbourg, "We need better early warning systems and preparedness in the health sector. We also need to help our cities adapt and cool down and support the most vulnerable individuals."
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Need for National and Local Cooperation
Despite the European Union announcing its adaptation strategy to address climate change since 2021, the primary responsibility for managing heat has generally remained with national and local governments. This situation has led to at least one inconsistent pattern of warning systems, cooling measures, and construction standards.
The new heatwave program, unveiled on September 16, imposes specific requirements on governments. One of the biggest challenges for the Commission is deciding whether to create a coordination framework or intervene in cases of insufficient national actions.
Von der Leyen also pointed out serious inequalities in access to cooling facilities, stating, "More than 26 percent of EU households in 2023 cannot easily keep their homes cool." This has become a larger challenge in terms of energy, housing, and social policies.
Worrying Climate Change Outlooks
Climate forecasts indicate that heat is increasingly becoming a serious threat. According to new estimates, around 62,800 heat-related deaths are projected in Europe in 2024. Von der Leyen warned that this is just a preview of more serious challenges we will face in the coming years.
Ultimately, while the European Union is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is now an urgent need to establish effective strategies for adapting to the existing heat. Von der Leyen also announced that a "climate insurance coalition" will be created to fill the existing financial gap.
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