Extreme heat setting records worldwide: UN weather agency

Extreme heat setting records worldwide: UN weather agency
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Extreme heat is breaking records globally, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on UN website. The report highlights that heat-related deaths are a major concern, with an estimated 489,000 deaths annually between 2000 and 2019, primarily in Europe and Asia. The “urban heat island effect” is compounding health risks in cities as urbanization increases.

The report notes that July 2025 was the third-warmest July on record. Specific heatwaves impacted regions including Sweden, Finland, and Southeast Europe. In Asia, temperatures soared in the Himalayas, China, and Japan, with new national records set in Türkiye and Japan. The article also mentions severe temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in parts of Iran and Iraq, which led to disruptions of essential services.

The WMO Deputy Secretary-General, Ko Barrett, referred to extreme heat as a “silent killer” but stressed that with current technology, all deaths are preventable. The WMO is working with partners to strengthen early warning systems and develop heat-health action plans under the “Early Warnings for All” initiative. In addition to the heat, the report also discusses the impact of wildfires, noting that Canada experienced one of its worst seasons on record, with fires also affecting parts of Europe, Turkey, and the US. The WMO is supporting a “Call to Action on Extreme Heat” to limit global warming and save lives through improved warning systems.