This summer, Europe has been on fire. Record-breaking temperatures above 43 °C scorched southern France and the Western Balkans, while wildfires tore through Spain and Greece, forcing evacuations and devastating communities. Across the EU, more than 400,000 hectares have burned this year, almost double the 20-year average.
Even Scandinavia, long known for its mild summers, faced extremes. In Sweden and Norway, relentless heat pushed water supplies dangerously low, with cities like Stockholm urging people to save water.
These are not just weather events, they are urgent warnings. Burning fossil fuels is heating our planet, threatening lives, homes, and ecosystems.
Now is the time for leadership. France, Scandinavia, and the European Commission must step up. Europe’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), due ahead of COP30, is a chance to commit to bold, fair climate action that protects people, forests, and our shared future.