'This is climate change and we just have to get used to it somehow' | DW News

A heatwave is hitting hard across southern Europe. Temperatures are expected to surpass 40C in parts of Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey.

In Rome, temperatures could reach as high as 43C, and a possible 47C on the island of Sardinia. In the Greek capital Athens, maximum temperatures could reach 45 degrees on Saturday. Sweltering heat has made life harder for people. Authorities are urging residents and tourists to be cautious. Extreme temperatures are likely to continue into the weekend.

Scientists say droughts, heat, wildfires, and other dangerous weather events are becoming more likely and severe due to climate change in most places worldwide. Extreme rainfall has become more frequent and intense because of man-made global warming – this is true for most places in the world, especially Europe, large parts of Asia, central and eastern North America, and parts of South America, Africa and Australia. However, it is not responsible for all weather disasters.

For more on this, we speak to Sjoukje Philip, a climate scientist at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. We ask her: When can we blame extreme weather events on climate change?

#climatechange #heatwaves #drought

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