Wrong, Newsweek, Europe’s Heat Deaths Are a Policy Failure, not a Climate Failure
2 days ago Anthony Watts
Newsweek claims in the recent article, “Hundreds Die in Record-Breaking Europe Heat Wave: How Long Will It Last,” that the current deadly European heat wave demonstrates the growing dangers of climate change, suggesting that rising greenhouse gas emissions are making heat domes more frequent and more dangerous. This is false. The real story is not climate change, rather it is Europe’s decades-long failure to allow its people to equip themselves with the most effective protection against extreme heat: air conditioning.
There is no question that heat waves can be deadly, particularly for the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. Newsweek reports that hundreds of deaths have occurred across Spain, France, and other parts of Europe during the current heat wave.
The obvious question is why. If climate change were the primary cause of these deaths, one would expect countries with the hottest climates to suffer the greatest mortality. Yet places such as Arizona, Texas, Florida, and Nevada routinely endure temperatures well above 100°F every summer without experiencing comparable spikes in heat-related deaths.
The difference is not the weather, the difference is policies, in this case policies restricting or disincentivizing air conditioning.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/06/30/wrong-newsweek-europes-heat-deaths-are-a-policy-failure-not-a-climate-failure/
