WMO warns Europe’s record heat signals global warming, urges policy action

Record‑breaking heat across Europe is a clear sign of global warming, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned, urging governments to turn weather monitoring and early warnings into concrete policies and public action as extreme temperatures threaten lives and infrastructure.

Europe is warming at a rate significantly faster than the global average, said John Kennedy, head of Climate Information at WMO, citing human activity and greenhouse gas emissions among the factors driving the trend. He also warned that the high temperatures pose a growing threat to public health across the continent.

"This is not normal summer heat. We're seeing increases in the rates, frequency and intensity of the heat waves and that heat is killing people. So, the kind of the concern is that infrastructure that we have is adapted for a climate that's now out of date. So we're seeing kind of increased vulnerability to the heat as the heat increases," said the expert.

High temperatures coupled with low rainfall can trigger severe droughts, hitting crop yields and ecosystems, according to the WMO. It also added that extreme heat is also straining infrastructure, softening road asphalt, deforming railway tracks and putting water supply and energy systems under pressure.

Kennedy said the key to coping with rising temperatures is to link weather warnings with concrete actions, stressing that forecasts must translate into measures that protect lives, livelihoods and critical systems.

"So the World Meteorological Organization is working with governments and weather services in Europe and around the world to put in place early warning systems that connect the forecasts to actions that can save lives and livelihoods. There are kind of some concrete actions individuals can take to keep themselves safe, but also there are actions that governments can take also to ensure that their populations remain safe and that the mechanisms are in place to anticipate the kinds of needs," he said.

WMO warns Europe’s record heat signals global warming, urges policy action

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command conducted a joint naval-air training exercise in the territorial sea and airspace of China's Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas on Saturday.

The theater command said in a statement that relevant subjects included reconnaissance and early warning, deterrence patrol, air-sea control, and joint strike.

The drills commenced immediately after the operational order was issued, with bomber formations and a naval fleet, including the destroyer Zhanjiang and the amphibious transport dock Qilianshan, arriving at the designated zone on schedule.

During the exercises, the bomber units executed simulated strikes against maritime targets, while the naval task force established air-defense formations to repel mock aerial assaults.

Operating teams utilized helicopters and ship-borne small boats to search for surface targets, conduct armed boarding operations on simulated hijacked vessels, control the ships to rescue hostages, and carry out emergency medical triage and evacuation for wounded personnel.

"Similar joint training exercises have become our routines. We adhere to sharpening our ability to respond to various contingencies at combat-readiness standards, and always maintain a state of readiness to execute missions at any time and effectively counter various risks and challenges," said Sun Junhui, an officer on the naval vessel Zhanjiang.

According to the theater command, the exercise effectively honed the troops' naval-air coordination, rapid support and win-by-system capabilities.

The theater command also said that the drill is a necessary action taken in light of the current situation in the South China Sea and in response to the acts of certain countries within the region that have undermined regional peace and stability.

The training exercise aimed to test and enhance the army's real combat capabilities to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the theater command said.

PLA conducts naval-air training exercise at Huangyan Dao