Scorching temperatures across Southern Europe have triggered red alerts in multiple countries, placing millions at risk and devastating key agricultural zones. In Italy’s Apulia region, farmers reported widespread damage to tomato and olive harvests, while Spain’s Andalusia recorded highs above 44°C, halting outdoor labor altogether.
Shorter-than-usual work shifts have been implemented to protect workers in the fields.
In Greece, hospitals in Athens saw a surge in heatstroke cases over the weekend, particularly among the elderly and tourists unaccustomed to extreme heat. Authorities have extended public cooling centers’ hours and deployed mobile emergency units to rural villages.
Experts note that such intense heatwaves are becoming increasingly common due to the accelerating impacts of climate change.
Climate scientists at the European Environment Agency warn that unless greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly curtailed, Mediterranean nations will face annual agricultural losses in the billions by 2030. The region is already classified as a climate change hotspot.
To protect future harvests, local governments are now piloting heat-resistant crop strains and expanding subsidies for advanced irrigation systems.
Environmental groups have used the moment to call on the EU to tighten its carbon neutrality timeline. In the meantime, southern Europeans brace for a hotter, drier future—one season at a time.
