The climate crisis in Europe: causes and consequences

Europe has been hit by a severe climate crisis this summer, with extreme heat waves pushing temperatures above 44°C in France and Spain, combined with unprecedented drought across the continent from April onwards. Major wine regions including France, Spain, Germany, Hungary and Romania have been particularly badly affected, with critically low water levels in key rivers like the Danube and Rhine, widespread wildfires, and significant impacts on agriculture and water supplies. The situation shows no signs of improvement in the near term, and experts warn this could be one of Europe's hottest and driest summers in recent years.