Major Cause of Heatwaves in Europe and Policy Recommendations

Heatwaves in Europe have become increasingly frequent, long-lasting and intense, significantly and negatively influencing public health, infrastructure, and ecosystems. The major cause is anthropogenic climate change and atmospheric circulation changes. Government measures now include expanded heat-health warning systems, early alert networks, targeted public outreach to vulnerable populations, and urban cooling initiatives. This paper, through a literature review, analyzes the climatological causes of recent extreme heatwave events, reviews their impacts, evaluates current policy, and identifies critical defects. Finally, this paper proposes evidence-based policy recommendations, including nature-based cooling, infrastructure retrofits, enhanced health planning, and continued emissions reduction to improve Europes preparation for future heatwaves. These measures can also be applied in a broader context of global heatwave issues and promote the improvement of environmental management.