Temperature records broken as extreme heat grips parts of Europe
Guardian3 days
Study: Climate Change Made Nordic Heatwave 10 Times More Likely
Above: The Ounaskoski Beach at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi on July 23. Image copyright: Jouni Porsanger/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Climate-concerned narrative
This heatwave proves that climate change is an immediate threat requiring urgent action. The burning of fossil fuels made this event 10 times more likely and 2°C hotter than it would have been naturally. If we don't stop filling the atmosphere with planet-heating gases, such extreme events will become five times more frequent by 2100.
Climate-skeptic narrative
The recent Nordic heatwave, although unusual, does not conclusively prove a link to climate change. Climate has always fluctuated, and regional weather extremes can occur naturally. Attribution studies rely on models with assumptions that remain debated. One heat wave is not definitive evidence of a global trend and correlation does not necessarily imply causation.