Heat-induced losses

Early heat waves hit wheat yields hardest

Research published in the Journal of Experimental Botany reveals that wheat crops are more sensitive to grain yield losses from heat waves that occur before reaching their flowering stage than those occurring later.

This scoping review of 176 studies from 41 countries found that heatwave-associated deaths are rarely coded as direct heat-related, while surveillance systems remain fragmented, highlighting the need for standardized and integrated monitoring.

Europe's silent heat death toll

Heat-related deaths look less dramatic than other climate disasters, yet they are far more frequent. This article looks into why Europe’s deadliest climate hazard remains its least visible one.

City Heat Solutions Calculator

HERA’s first-of-its-kind tool and analysis estimates how extreme heat affects economic output and mortality in cities around the world. It shows the likely impact on workers today and how those impacts could grow by 2050.

This report outlines the geography and scale of household energy burden across the United States of America, with particular attention to the impacts of extreme heat and cooling costs.

Disaster review for the first half of 2026

In the first 6 months of the year, disasters caused worldwide losses estimated at US$112bn. Of that, only US$44bn were insured, representing a 60% insurance gap. Losses were below the inflation-adjusted 10-year average and well below the 5-year average.

France: More than 5,700 excess deaths logged during June 2026 heatwave

Figures come as large parts of southern Europe endure another record-breaking period of extreme temperatures.

Europe: The world champion of heat deaths

The continent with the lowest number of hot days leads the world in heat mortality. Europe’s self-inflicted aversion to air conditioning betrays a deeper hostility to energy and to progress itself.