Continued Hot and Long Summer in North America, Europe, and China

With the ongoing heatwave affecting much of the world this summer, red alerts have been issued in 23 cities in Italy. In this context, the Lazio region, whose capital is Rome, announced on Wednesday, July 19, that medical emergencies have increased by 20% compared to last summer due to rising temperatures. Reports indicate that temperatures in the island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean Sea are expected to reach between 45 to 46 degrees Celsius. According to Reuters from Italy, meanwhile, workers at the 'Magneti Marelli' battery factory in Sulmona threatened to hold an 8-hour strike. In a joint statement, labor unions stated that 'the stifling heat endangers workers' lives.' In Greece, wildfires in the forests west of Athens continued for the third consecutive day. Firefighters worked overnight to keep the flames away from coastal refineries. The fires, due to erratic winds, have destroyed dozens of homes, forced hundreds to flee, and covered the area in thick smoke. It is forecasted that temperatures will reach 43 degrees Celsius on Thursday. European meteorologists say the current extreme heat is mainly due to a slow-moving anticyclone, a high-pressure system dominating the upper atmosphere over southern Europe. This heatwave has illuminated parts of Europe, Asia, and the United States this week. Scientists have long warned that climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions primarily from burning fossil fuels, is making heatwaves more frequent, intense, and deadly. Meanwhile, John Kerry, the U.S. government's climate envoy, expressed hope in Beijing, where for the twenty-eighth consecutive day, temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius, that cooperation to combat global warming could redefine the troubled relations between the two superpowers. The unprecedented rise in temperatures has created a new urgency for countries worldwide to address climate change. While the two largest economies have disputes over various issues from trade to Taiwan, Mr. Kerry told Han Zheng, the Vice President of China, on Wednesday that climate change should be managed separately from the numerous diplomatic issues. The current heatwave is expected to continue until next week, and if the heat persists, another period of extreme temperatures may be on the way. The heatwave in Europe; temperatures in several countries will exceed 40 degrees. The heatwave in California has seen temperatures in some areas reach 48 degrees. The heatwave in the Northern Hemisphere; 'red alerts' have been issued in southern and eastern Europe. Temperatures exceeding 50 degrees have been recorded in six cities in Iran; an unprecedented heatwave in parts of America. Global heat records on land and sea; experts warn: there is no time left for change.