Heatwave fans talk of climate crisis in Germany

European heatwave

From Clean Energy Wire:

An unusually early heatwave with temperatures expected to rise to around 40° Celsius has fanned calls for more climate action in Germany, in an echo of last year’s extremely hot and dry summer. “In contrast to earlier extreme events, the experts’ judgement is clear: this is a sign of climate change,” writes Marlene Weiß in an article in the Süddeutsche Zeitung entitled “In the oven.” The heatwave is unusual not only because of the extreme temperatures, but also because it arrives at the beginning of the summer, according to Weiß. Meterological forecasts say that heat records for the month of June could be broken across the country. 

“This increase in heat extremes corresponds exactly to what was predicted by climate scientists as a consequence of global warming,” according to Stefan Rahmstorf, co-chair of Earth System Analysis at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). “Only a rapid reduction of fossil fuel use and a corresponding cut in CO2 emissions can prevent a disastrous further increase of weather extremes.”


Last year, a prolonged drought and record-breaking temperatures in August significantly increased public pressure for more climate action in Germany. Countless media reports invoked the extreme weather as a harbinger of the country’s future if governments – including Germany’s – fail to immediately curb carbon emissions. A large majority of the population said they believed the hot weather was a result of climate change.

Ordinary people are finally seeing the impacts of global heating.  Now.  Not in some never-never future.  Right now.  And they are becoming convinced that we need to act. 

When Europe sets a carbon neutral target for 2050, there is no way she will allow the rest of the world to cheat and continue business as usual (BAU).  Expect countervailing customs duties on imports from countries without a carbon price, or who are doing nothing to cut emissions.  The 2050 carbon neutral target will become the world's.  Because electors want it.  Because the evidence which was obvious in the data is now self-evident to the public.  Time to act.  The logjam is breaking, denialists are becoming quaint and irrelevant.