Extreme heatwaves in July due to climate crisis: Study

Extreme weather has caused havoc across the planet, with temp breaking records in China, the US, Mexico and Europe

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Human-induced climate crisis has played an "absolutely overwhelming" role in the extreme heatwaves that have swept across North America, Europe and China this month, according to an assessment by scientists published on Tuesday.

Throughout July, severe heatwaves have gripped southern Europe, parts of the United States, Mexico and China, with temperatures above 45°C, sparking wildfires, water shortages and a rise in heat-related hospital admissions.

Over the weekend, thousands of tourists were evacuated from the Greek island of Rhodes to escape wildfires caused by a record-breaking heatwave.

Without human-induced climate crisis, the events this month would have been "extremely rare", according to a study by World Weather Attribution (WWA), a global team of scientists that examines the role played by climate crisis in extreme weather.