Heatwaves Strike the World, Not Just Europe

(Photo by Chris Yarzab via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0 DEED)

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In June 2026, media headlines were full of reports about deadly heatwaves in Europe which claimed thousands of lives across the continent. As of writing, trackers show that the June heatwaves correlate with 10,000 excess deaths across the continent.

Extreme heatwaves have unfortunately become routine, as shown by similar occurrences in 2025 and 2024. The deadliness of European heatwaves this summer reflects the sad reality that Europe is one of, if not the fastest-warming areas on the planet, with temperatures increasing by approximately 0.5 degrees Celsius per decade since the 1990s.

Heatwaves have been increasing in frequency and duration globally as a direct result of climate change. Seeing the news coverage of Europe’s heatwaves should remind everyone that this natural phenomenon is in fact affecting communities all over the world, most of which do not have the resources or infrastructure necessary to adequately mitigate the effects.

What is a Heatwave?

Although there is no internationally agreed-upon definition, in its basic form, heatwaves are short periods of unusually hot weather which break with historic norms. That is to say, the severity of a heatwave can only be judged based on what the weather is usually like in a geographic area. 

Under normal conditions, air is able to cycle around the globe, allowing the heat to dissipate, keeping temperatures relatively consistent over time. However, heatwaves are formed when high-pressure systems keep the air trapped over a particular area, forming a dome which greatly increases surface temperatures.

Although heatwaves are a naturally occurring phenomenon, climate change has increased their likelihood and intensity. Studies show that climate change makes intense heatwaves 200 times more likely to occur. As climate change increases average temperatures, heatwaves form more easily and can peak at much higher temperatures. 

Not only that, but heatwaves are particularly deadly in cities due to the urban heat island effect. Cities have fewer surfaces such as trees and ponds which provide shade and absorb heat, and instead are full of surfaces such as asphalt and concrete which absorb and re-emit heat, leading to higher overall temperatures. This is of particular concern since a majority of humans on Earth now live in urban areas and projections show that 70% of all humans will live in cities by 2050.

Heatwaves in the Middle East

Just across the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East has had its own recent history with high- intensity heatwaves. Just like Europe, this region is on the list of the fastest-warming regions on the planet, with temperatures rising at twice the global average. 

The region saw its highest year on record in 2024, with many areas reaching and even surpassing temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius. This is an emergency of catastrophic proportions, as research suggests that parts of the region might be completely uninhabitable by the end of the 21st century. Furthermore, trends show that in some countries urban dwellers will make up 90% of the population, subjecting even more people to the urban heat island effect.

These increasing temperatures are becoming an acute public health threat that exerts enormous pressure on local communities and local health systems. The unique effects of the region’s heatwaves can be seen in how they have affected the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The Case of Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Mecca welcomes millions of pilgrims every year who are completing their Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, which asks all Muslims of means to visit the city at least once in their lifetime. The number of visitors each year is enormous and on an upward trend, as seen by 2026 figures, which show that 2 million pilgrims visited the city. 400,000 more people compared to 2025.

Heatwaves have become a serious concern for local authorities as they pose a serious health risk to visitors, which was proven in 2024 when temperatures reached 51 degrees celcius, leading to the deaths of at least 1,300 pilgrims and injuring double that number. 

Those who witnessed it paint a stark picture, such as Haadar Saila – a pilgrim from Morocco – who reported that the streets were strewn with corpses. The number of fatalities was so high that many bodies were not removed promptly and were simply covered with a sheet. Another visitor – Azzad Hami  Brahim from Egypt – reported that the scorching temperatures made her shake so much she thought she was about to die.

In response, Saudi Arabian authorities have introduced several measures and have made investments to avoid similar calamities in the future. In 2025, for example, the Gulf state expanded spaces of shade by 50,000 square metres, mobilized thousands of medics, and deployed 400 cooling units.

Similar preparations were made in 2026 with the addition of specialized reflective materials and vegetation along the most used routes in the city.

This case study shows how the acute risks of heatwaves are forcing governments to adapt and invest in mitigation efforts. Unfortunately, not all countries have the amount of resources at their disposal compared to the oil-rich Gulf states.

Water Shortages in South Asia

No region on Earth has suffered, and nor will it suffer the most, from heatwaves more than South Asia, particularly India.

While Western media reported on the lethal heatwaves striking Europe, similar heatwaves were killing thousands across India. Starting in April, multiple states across India were hit by temperatures reaching anywhere between 40 – 45 degrees Celsius and by May the northern state of Uttar Pradesh reached 48 degrees Celsius. Shockingly enough, these temperatures did not reach the record-breaking levels seen in 2024 when cities such as Delhi (not to be confused with New Delhi, a smaller administrative sector) reached 50 degrees Celsius. 

The total human cost of heatwaves cannot be accurately determined due to reporting inconsistencies, and many argue that the current death toll is grossly underrepresented in official figures. Yet, early figures calculate that India’s 2026 heatwaves, which were not record-breaking, killed approximately 3,400 people daily.

The Case of Indore, India

Heatwaves in India have also exacerbated pre-existing crises, such as in the city of Indore in central India. Indore, a city which had been consistently ranked as the cleanest city in the entire country, was struck with scandal in January 2026 when contaminated water led to 9 deaths and 200 hospitalizations.

The situation worsened in May 2026 when the city was affected by water shortages amidst deadly heatwaves, which often lead to an increase in water consumption amongst those affected.

Videos show confrontations between police and local residents waiting for water. Yet, despite water shortages during heatwaves, life must go on. A local construction worker, Nitish Kumar, shares his dilemma. He must work a physically demanding job for hours under the scorching sun since he must still make money to make a living. 

A particularly vulnerable community are those living in the streets who have chosen to live outside a hospital in order to receive some semblance of medical care.

Unlike Saudi Arabia, which has invested millions to prepare Mecca for acute temperatures, no such investments have reached the residents of Indore who must instead adapt to survive the temperatures, such as by coating roofs in reflective paint.

Equally Distributed Heat

As heatwaves strike North America and Europe, we should remember that they hit regions all across the world, sometimes with even deadlier consequences.

The true tragedy of the disproportionate deadliness of heatwaves is that developing countries suffer more from the effects of climate change even though they have contributed the least to causing it.

Developed economies such as those in Europe and North America have substantially higher carbon debts because they have been emitting greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. Most developing economies – such as India – do not have the resources available to Western nations in Europe or oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia.

The explicit connection between climate change and colonialism has led to the inclusion of more experts from the Global South. Although this is a step in the right direction, the real change will be measured in resources invested in mitigation efforts as demonstrated by the case of Mecca. 

Ultimately, awareness and representation are only meaningful if they translate into material climate justice. Unless wealthier nations direct substantial investments to develop infrastructure in vulnerable regions, extreme heat will continue to pose a far larger threat to those least responsible for the climate crisis.

Edited by Chelsea Bean