The climate emergency has tripled deaths due to the heat of this summer in Europe: Without this phenomenon caused by the burning of fossil fuels, 68% of the deaths caused by extreme heat this summer on the Old Continent would not have occurred. This is the conclusion of a study led by scientists from Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, which estimates that at least 24,400 people died between June and August 2025 in 850 European cities due to high temperatures. The study also estimates that if there were no climate change, 16,500 of these deaths would not have occurred and the number of heat-related deaths would have been 7,900.

For a few years now, the effects of the climate crisis have been clearly visible. Whether it's summer, autumn, winter, or spring, the corresponding temperatures are increasingly higher, and the associated meteorological phenomena, however common they may be, gain in intensity season after season. During heat waves, the thermometer rises higher than ever (and drops less than ever in terms of nighttime lows); during transition periods, the warmed seawater carries more weight than ever before in storms, whether they are associated with a cold snap or not; and winters with little rain are increasingly frequent and longer, opening the door to more periods of drought. And of course, the particular combination of these factors leaves many forests at the mercy of the flames: we are becoming familiar with sixth-generation fires, those that are beyond the capacity to attack them.

Heat waves, droughts, and floods affected a quarter of all regions in the European Union (EU) in the summer of 2025, with aggregate macroeconomic losses estimated at €43 billion this year and expected to rise to 126 billion in the medium term (until 2029). This is indicated by a joint study led by Dr. Sehrish Usman of the University of Mannheim and with the participation of economists from the European Central Bank (ECB). The research highlights the greater impact in the south of the continent and breaks down the data by geographic area.

Often when we think about the climate crisis, starving polar bones come to mind and melting glaciers. And yet, the global rise in temperatures and associated extreme events are also a serious threat to human health. Continued exposure to excessive heat causes premature death, worsens mental health and aggravates respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Sustained heatwave episodes, like those this summer, are associated with a higher level of aggression and conflict, and favor the transmission of infectious diseases, like dengue, malaria and chikungunya.

We conclude (not astronomically or meteorologically, but in the work calendar) this summer of 2025, which, from my point of view, has been a strange summer. A summer ofheat waves and waves of fires, with the typical news snakes of the time, but mostly negative and with endless and very bitter controversies.

A seasonal worker died this Monday afternoon while harvesting fruit on a farm in Alcarràs, in the Segrià region, according to ACN reports and ARA. The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) were alerted around 4:45 p.m., coinciding with the peak of the heat wave and when the temperature in the municipality was around 41 degrees. According to ACN, the man reportedly became dizzy and began to feel ill. Emergency Medical System (SEM) officers were dispatched to a nearby farm where the seasonal worker was working, but when they arrived, he showed no vital signs and they were unable to revive him.

"Hydration, feeding, and ventilation are the main aspects we adapt during hot periods to ensure the animals' well-being," explains Antoni Alarcón, director of the Barcelona Zoo. It's 11:30 in the afternoon and the temperature is 31 degrees. These measures include providing more drinking fountains and changing the water more frequently, intensifying cleaning and changing the water in bathing areas and mud pits for some species—such as warthogs and elephants—and improving the ventilation of the enclosures. This diet is a complement to improve the animals' hydration and does not replace anything they normally eat. Pieces of fruit found among the ice: "The fact that they have to lick them little by little helps them hydrate," explains Alarcón.

The heatwave that hit Europe between June 23 and July 2 pushed temperatures up to 4°C and increased the number of expected deaths for this period, especially in Italy, Catalonia, and France. The culprit behind these "silent deaths"—because they go unrecorded and official government estimates can take months to be published or never be made public—was the climate crisis caused by the burning of oil, gas, and coal, according to a study led by Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

It's been getting dark for an hour, but Nati and her neighbor Nora are reluctant to go up to the apartment they share with their husbands and children. "If we could bring the mattress down to the street, we'd sleep better," Nati says, laughing, as she yells at the children because they still have dinner. It's 10:30 at night, and a huge thermometer in a corner still reads 31°C, but they say the temperature inside the house is even worse.

Catalonia has been burning for days. The asphalt is boiling in the cities, apartments are suffocating in the densest neighborhoods, and in many towns, shade is a rare luxury. The heat wave is relentless, with record temperatures approaching day after day. But not everyone experiences it the same way. For some, it's a nuisance; for others, a threat.

If there's one conversation that's been on everyone's mind these past few weeks, it's about the heat. In Catalonia, temperatures have broken all records this June, resulting in tropical nights and sweltering days. In fact, according to a study by the German company Fischer, which specializes in technical solutions for building fastening, insulation, and energy efficiency, one in five Spaniards feels unsafe in their home during heat waves, and this figure rises to one in three for families with babies.

In June, it took its toll on Barcelona's kindergartens: faults in the air conditioning systems have multiplied the effects of the heat in the classrooms, where in many cases temperatures reached almost thirty degrees. The inability to respond to this problem, beyond distributing penguins—portable air conditioners—to the affected centers, has forced the City Council to process an emergency plan to address it.

We look back at the fires in Segarra, Noguera and Urgell, which have caused two dead and that big column of smokeThey call it a pyrocumulus, generated by the fire itself and the heat. There's growing concern that the heat wave will dry everything out, but fortunately, a cooling off in temperatures and afternoon rain are on the way for half the country, and we hope this will be a welcome relief, in every sense.

Everyone imagined it would be, but now the data confirms it: Catalonia has experienced its warmest June ever recorded, according to the preliminary monthly report from the Catalan Meteorological Service (SMC). The monthly temperature across the country was 4°C above the average for the reference period (1991-2020), an extraordinary and unprecedented anomaly.

If we've been sweating hard throughout June, let's get ready, because the longest and harshest bout of extreme heat is yet to come. In the coming days, a new subtropical anticyclone will hit us, bringing sustained, very warm air from North Africa with a higher suspended pulse. All of this will lead to the first heat wave of the year in various regions and also across much of the Iberian Peninsula.

High temperatures and heat waves are added risk factors for many workers who are exposed, whether outdoors or indoors. Furthermore, these phenomena are becoming more frequent and intense due to the climate emergency. This increases the possibility of a worker suffering a work-related accident or of a pre-existing condition worsening. Cristina Fernández, General of the Labor and Social Security Inspectorate (ITSS), spoke at a press conference this Wednesday. According to union data, work-related accidents due to heat stroke, heatstroke, or extreme temperatures affected 224 people in 2024.

Olive oil production will suffer a sharp drop this year in Catalonia. The causes of the reduction are the successive heat waves that have affected the country since April and the drought accumulated over the past two years.

Never before had the Generalitat activated so many restrictions as it will do this weekend to cope with a heat wave and, consequently, the high risk of fire which will be present in the country. If up until now the measures affected 275 municipalities and nine mountain massifs, the Catalan Government has announced that from this weekend onwards, the fire risk will be higher than ever. The Government has announced that from this Friday until Monday –both included– some activities will be restricted in 11 mountain ranges and 357 municipalities in 27 counties (82 more than until now).

High temperatures can increase work accidents by up to 10%, according to a study published by the Barcelona Association of Technical Architects (CAATEEB) and elaborated with data from all over Spain by the company Estudi IS Global. The most common accidents are heat stroke and burns, while the most affected sectors are agriculture and construction.

The heat wave that is already noticeable in Catalonia will reach its peak this weekend and the Generalitat will apply measures in areas with the highest risk of fires. There are 275 municipalities in 20 counties that will be at level 3 of the Alfa plan, the maximum alert. In these areas camping and hiking will be banned from Friday until Monday, as will sporting activities in the natural environment. All this will only be allowed in inhabited areas. As for summer camps, sports stays and equivalent activities, they will not be allowed to leave the surroundings of the buildings where they are staying. These are two measures which, unlike the rest, will start being applied this Friday at 12 noon.