Europe heatwave killed up to 14,000; Commission faces climate policy test
June's brutal heatwave caused thousands of excess deaths across six worst-hit European countries, while the European Commission prepares to unveil key climate policy announcements.
The European Commission's moment of climate truth arrives on Friday with two policy announcements that will test whether the Commission can keep its emissions-cutting promises.
The three letters Brussels won't stop talking about
POLITICO's guide to the core elements of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) reform highlights the three letters that are central to the ongoing debate in Brussels.
Heatwave death toll
A brutal June heatwave killed as many as 14,000 Europeans, according to POLITICO calculations showing thousands of excess deaths in six worst-hit countries. The figure underscores the lethal impact of climate change.
Why Europe's heatwaves remain deadly
An ageing population, overheating homes, and climatic change are fast outstripping preparations and driving up the death toll. Despite being a wealthy region, Europe remains vulnerable to extreme heat, and adaptation measures are lagging dangerously behind.
