Published on: 2026-06-25
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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June 25, 2026 Climate and Environment
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), together with partners, coordinates measures to protect public health in connection with the record heat that swept Europe at the end of June. Its consequences affect the economy, infrastructure, agriculture, and ecosystems.
In France, June 24 became the hottest day in the entire history of observations. In some areas the temperature rose to 43.8 degrees Celsius. A red, the highest, danger level was declared in 58 departments. The average temperature across the country reached 30 degrees, surpassing previous records set in 2019 and 2003. Against the backdrop of intensifying drought, authorities warned of a high risk of forest fires.
Spain also experienced the hottest days of June in the entire observation history. On June 23 and 24, in many regions of the country, the temperature significantly exceeded 40 degrees.
New temperature records were registered in the United Kingdom as well, where on June 24 the air warmed up to 36.1 degrees Celsius. A red danger level was also declared in Germany and Switzerland.
According to forecasts from one of the regional climate centers of the WMO, in the next two weeks extreme heat will spread over most of Western, Central, and Southern Europe, and then shift towards the Balkans. Air temperature in many regions will be 3–10 degrees above the climatic norm, and daytime maximums will exceed 35 degrees.
Health consequences
Specialists emphasize that the greatest threat is posed not only by daytime temperatures, but also by hot nights. The so-called “tropical nights,” when the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees, are becoming an increasingly common phenomenon during heat waves, especially in cities. Experts emphasize that at night the body recovers after the daytime heat: body temperature decreases and the load on the cardiovascular system is reduced. If this does not happen, the body experiences serious stress.
“That is why when assessing the health consequences of heat, the minimum night temperature often turns out to be a more important indicator than the daytime maximum,” explained the consultant of the WHO office and the World Health Organization on climate and health issues, Armel Castellan.
Extreme heat and climate change
Against the backdrop of extreme heat, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking on June 23 at the London Climate Week, warned that such phenomena will occur more and more frequently and become increasingly intense.
“We have just experienced eleven of the hottest years in the entire history of observations. Climatic disasters are becoming increasingly frequent, destructive, and expensive. The World Meteorological Organization warns – the worst is yet to come,” said the head of the UN.
According to Guterres, the developing climatic phenomenon El Niño may further impact global temperature rise, disrupt food and water systems, and also affect the most vulnerable population groups.
How to prepare for extreme heat
WMO is one of the ten specialized UN agencies participating in the initiative of the UN Secretary-General to combat the consequences of extreme heat. Its goal is to strengthen international cooperation, improve early warning systems, and help countries better prepare for periods of abnormally high temperatures.
Within the framework of the “Early Warnings for All” initiative, the WHO, together with national meteorological services, aims to provide timely warnings about approaching dangerous heat and recommendations for health protection.
Together with the World Health Organization (WHO), recommendations for the creation of early warning systems and action plans during heat waves have been developed. They help authorities and health services prepare in advance for extreme weather events and reduce their consequences.
Specialists remind that heat stress develops when the body receives more heat than it can release. In hot and humid weather, natural cooling mechanisms, primarily sweating, stop working effectively, and body temperature begins to rise.
According to experts, the highest risk is posed to the elderly, young children, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases, those who work outdoors, as well as people without permanent housing.
Cities remain in the risk zone
Cities suffer especially heavily from extreme heat. The air temperature in cities can be several degrees higher than in rural areas due to the large number of concrete and asphalt structures, lack of greenery, and poor air circulation.
The WHO notes that many cities still do not have enough information or tools that would help use this data to protect the population. At the same time, necessary solutions already exist – from heat risk maps and models assessing the impact of heat on health to urban planning tools. The main task today is not to develop new technologies, but to understand which of them are most effective in different conditions and how they can be applied in other cities.
It was precisely on this topic that an international seminar was dedicated, held in April at the WHO headquarters within the framework of the iClimateAction project funded by the European Union. Its participants—WHO specialists, experts in the fields of climate and health, representatives of space agencies, urban planners, and technology companies—discussed the creation of a Global Service for increasing resilience to extreme heat, whose goal is to provide cities worldwide with reliable information and practical tools that will help better prepare for extreme heat and reduce its consequences.
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