A ‘brutal reminder of climate change’: Europe’s May heatwave sparks UN calls to shift to clean power

Key Points:

• Europe is experiencing record-breaking May temperatures due to a powerful heat dome, with cities like London and Paris hitting their hottest May days on record, a phenomenon strongly linked to human-caused climate change.
• The UNFCCC highlights fossil fuel dependency as the primary driver of climate change, responsible for about 68% of global greenhouse gas emissions, urging a rapid transition to cleaner energy sources to ensure economic security and energy affordability.
• Europe's renewable energy sector, particularly wind and solar, surpassed fossil fuels in electricity generation in 2025, significantly reducing reliance on imports and cutting emissions, with solar alone saving €3 billion in gas import costs in March.
• Despite progress, some EU countries like Italy and the Netherlands lag in transitioning away from fossil fuels, risking failure to meet emission reduction targets and prolonging dependence on coal and gas.
• Experts emphasize the urgent need to accelerate fossil fuel phase-out and invest in climate resilience measures to protect lives, economies, and food production from the escalating impacts of climate change.