Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Early Heatwave in Europe WMO 17 June 2022
/
2:30
/
MP4
/
184.7 MB

Edited News | WMO

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Early Heatwave in Europe WMO 17 JUN2022

With summer not officially started, Europe is already experiencing a major heatwave as a result of climate change. According to experts at the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), heatwaves are starting earlier, becoming more frequent and severe due to record-level concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Speaking to journalists at a news briefing at the United Nations in Geneva, WMO’s spokesperson Clare Nullis said that “an unusually early and intense heat wave has hit parts of Europe this week." She adding saying that "it spread up from North Africa through Spain, Portugal, it’s hitting France today, and then it will peak Switzerland, Germany over the weekend.”

Although it is only mid-June, temperatures are more typical of those witnessed in July or August.

Some parts of Spain and France, temperatures are more than 10 degrees higher, that's huge than the average for this time of year,said Clare Nullis.

The WMO’s spokesperson particularly issued a warning of wildfires in Spain.

“Nearly the entire country of Spain, it's a big red map today, faces an extreme fire risk”, Clare Nullis said. “So, our message to Spanish audiences, please, please, please heed all the warnings. There is extreme fire danger today. So please take care.”

Also France saw its warmest and driest May on record. For today, 12 French departments have a top-level Red Alert.

Studies into recent extreme heat events such as in Indian and Pakistan earlier this year, in Siberia in 2020 or in western Europe in 2019 have all highlighted the role of human-induced climate change.

According to Clare Nullis, “as a result of climate change, heat waves are starting earlier. They're becoming more frequent and more severe because of concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which are at record level.”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that for 1,5 Celsius of global warming, there will be increasing heat waves, longer warm seasons and short cold season. With the rise of global temperature at 2 Celsius heat extremes would more often reach critical tolerance thresholds for agriculture and health.

Extreme heat is deadly, especially for the vulnerable.

High minimum overnight temperatures when the body needs to recover, this is particularly dangerous”, pointed out Clare Nullis.

She added that city dwellers are particularly susceptible “because of the urban heat island effect, you know cities temperature can be 6 degrees Celsius higher than rural areas.”

WMO’s message is: We have to adapt through early warning systems, and much more can be done to saving lives than it was done in the past such as regreening the cities.

You see some of the architecture now in cities which are literally greening cities, greening apartments", Clare Nullis said. "So, there's a lot that we can and that we really should be doing.”

-ends-

  1. Exterior medium shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags moving gently in the wind, a lovely day.
  2. Medium wide shot, press room with participant in foreground, speakers seated at podium.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson for WMO: “An unusually early and intense heat wave has hit parts of Europe this week. It spread up from North Africa through Spain, Portugal. It’s hitting France today, and then it will peak Switzerland, Germany over the weekend.”
  4. Close-up, silhouette of the podium speaker in foreground, TV screen showing the podium speaker to rear.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson for WMO: “Some parts of Spain and France, temperatures are more than 10 degrees higher, so 10 degrees higher, that's huge than the average for this time of year.”
  6. Medium shot, participants sitting in front of laptop and following the presser.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson for WMO: “Nearly the entire country of Spain, it's a big red map today, faces an extreme fire risk. So, our message to Spanish audiences, please, please, please heed all the warnings. There is extreme fire danger today. So please take care.”
  8. Close-up, fingers tapping on the laptop and taking notes.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson for WMO: “As a result of climate change, heat waves are starting earlier. They're becoming more frequent and more severe because of concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which are at record level.”
  10. Close-up, silhouette of the journalists in foreground, blurry; podium speaker to rear.
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson for WMO: “High minimum overnight temperatures when the body needs to recover, this is particularly dangerous.”
  12. Medium wide shot, TV screen showing the podium speaker in foreground, participants and studio flashlight to rear.
  13. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson for WMO: “Because of the urban heat island effect, you know cities temperature can be 6 degrees Celsius higher than rural areas.”
  14. Close-up, fingers tapping on the laptop and taking notes.
  15. SOUNDBITE (English) — Clare Nullis, spokesperson for WMO: “You see some of the architecture now in cities which are literally greening cities, greening apartments. So, there's a lot that we can and that we really should be doing.”
  16. Close-up, participants following the press conference.
  17. Close-up, fingers taking notes on the notebook.
  18. Medium shot, journalists following the press conference and taking down notes on their laptop.
  19. Medium shot, participants taking photos and taking notes.

Similar Stories

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end”

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end” ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC ENG FRA

Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital 

UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti

2

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.

The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire

UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO ENG FRA

The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Report: Civilian detainees subjected to troubling patterns of torture and ill treatment since Russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine ENG FRA

A UN Human Rights report released today details the dire situation of thousands of civilians detained since Russia’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine in 2022. 

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF

Sudan cholera update WHO - UNICEF ENG FRA

Sudan war: Life-saving cholera vaccination campaign begins in Darfur

Amid the devastating war in Sudan, UN aid teams are overcoming major obstacles to curb a cholera outbreak claiming lives across the country, with young children particularly at risk.

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025

2

1

2

Edited News , B-roll | UN WOMEN

Afghanistan earthquake response – UN Women 19 September 2025 ENG FRA

Women and girls still reeling from Afghanistan's recent deadly earthquake face even greater suffering rebuilding their lives and livelihoods without much more help from the international community, UN Women said on Friday.

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN report: Sudan crisis deepens amid rising civilian casualties - UN Human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and OHCHR Sudan Representative Li Fung ENG FRA

Rising civilian casualties, growing ethnic violence and the grim humanitarian situation in Sudan underscore how the crisis there is deepening, according to a UN Human rights report published today.

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNITED NATIONS

'Not a Target' UN Geneva Protest - 18 September 2025 ENG FRA

United Nations agencies staff demonstrates on Place des Nations in Geneva to denounce the killing of their colleagues in Gaza.

WMO - World Water Monitor 18 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

WMO - World Water Monitor 18 September 2025 ENG FRA

The world’s water resources face growing pressure from climate change while emergencies related to the vital resource are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Remarks to HRC 60 Urgent debate

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Remarks to HRC 60 Urgent debate ENG FRA

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed the Human Rights Council during a meeting on the Israeli strike on negotiators in Qatar on Tuesday. “Israel’s strike on negotiators in Doha on 9 September was a shocking breach of international law, an assault on regional peace and stability, and a blow against the integrity of mediation and negotiating processes around the world,” he said.