As summer deepens, many of us are feeling a now-familiar pattern: every year seems hotter than the last. Around the world, extreme heat waves are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and hitting harder, and human activity is to blame.
Heat extremes that once occurred once every 50 years now happen about every decade. Recent studies show the longest heat waves are accelerating faster than average global warming itself. The World Meteorological Organization projects global temperatures will remain well above historical averages through at least 2029, ensuring that extreme heat is here to stay.
In June and July 2025, Europe endured one of its deadliest heat waves on record. Over 2,300 excess deaths were reported, with climate change responsible for roughly 1,500. Spain alone saw more than 1,100 heat-related deaths over two months. In Greece, drought and heat have triggered widespread forest die-off. In the western Mediterranean, marine heat waves are compounding the crisis on land and sea.
Africa has seen the number of heat waves double in recent decades, with climate change hitting hardest where infrastructure is weakest. In India and Pakistan, months of extreme heat this spring and summer pushed temperatures near 50°C and caused hundreds of deaths.
Without rapid emissions cuts and major adaptation investments, these events will sadly just grow more dangerous.
As a sign of the times, many .earth users are publishing articles about how to survive a heat wave:
- Tempest.Earth: Here Tempest News talks about how to stay safe during a heat wave . Learn more here.
- Greenly.Earth: In this article, Greenly provides tips for people as well as companies for surviving a heat wave. Learn more here.
- Dashboard.Earth: In this article, Dashboard explores how to take action when trying to beat the heat. Learn more here.
Is your organization covering solutions on how to beat the heat? The .earth web domain is ideal for enhancing your brands and communicating your mission of creating a safer planet through platforms for social and environmental activism.
To learn more about the .earth domain, visit Voices.Earth. In addition, many organizations and individuals are sharing their voices about the benefits of a .earth domain in our Voices.Earth podcast series.
