U.K. heat wave demonstrates the danger of extremes

Parts of England, in particular, are currently seeing the effects of record-breaking heat – reaching temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. (Credit: scharfsinn86/Adobe Stock)

Natural disasters caused global losses of $65 billion in the first half of 2022, says a new mid-year report from Munich Re. This figure includes losses from severe flooding in Australia, devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan and Japan, tornadoes in the United States and severe heat and drought in areas of Europe, among other natural catastrophes. When it comes to the human cost, Munich Re found 4,300 people lost their lives due to natural disasters in the first half of the year.

Parts of England, in particular, are currently seeing the effects of record-breaking heat – reaching temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. While the U.K. is no stranger to occasional heat waves, this one is exceptional. According to Munich Re’s Chief Climate Scientist and head of the Climate Solutions Unit, Ernst Rauch, thanks to climate change, we should expect to see more frequent exceptional weather events in the future.