Amsterdam \u2013 Responding to a rapid study by scientists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine that found that the number of heat-related deaths across 12 European cities tripled due to the climate crisis in the 10 day period between 23 June and 2 July, as well as to preliminary data published by the Copernicus Climate Change Service that June 2025 was the hottest ever June for Western Europe and the third-warmest June globally.[1][2]<\/p>\n\n
Ian Duff, Head of Greenpeace International’s Stop Drilling Start Paying campaign said<\/strong>: \u201cIt is society\u2019s most vulnerable \u2013 in Milan, Barcelona, Paris, London and elsewhere \u2013 who suffer most in the midst of record temperatures. Europe\u2019s dependence and soft hand on oil and gas corporations who are fueling this extreme heat is giving a death blow to our parents and grandparents.\u201d <\/p>\n\n \u201cThis heatwave comes when public finances are already stretched and it is only fair that those most responsible are made to pay. For European cities to become safe spaces for society\u2019s most vulnerable, polluters like Shell and TotalEnergies must face fines and taxes to pay for soaring climate and health costs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n Beyond excess mortality, the latest heatwave in Europe resulted in restrictions on outdoor work hours in Italy, the closure of more than 2,200 schools in France, and wildfires breaking out in Greece, Spain, and Turkey.<\/p>\n\n Eight out of 10 people support taxing oil and gas corporations to pay for climate damages, according to a global survey<\/a> commissioned by Greenpeace International and Oxfam International. The two organisations are part of the Polluters Pay Pact<\/a>, a global alliance of over 170,000 people, including first responders like firefighters, humanitarian groups and political leaders. It demands that governments around the world make oil, coal and gas corporations pay their fair share for the damages they cause<\/p>\n\n ENDS<\/p>\n\n Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n [1] \u201cClimate change tripled heatwave death toll in European cities during last week’s heatwave\u201d \u2013 Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine<\/a><\/p>\n\n [2] \u201cThird-warmest June globally \u2013 Heatwaves in Europe amid temperature extremes across both hemispheres\u201d \u2013 Copernicus<\/a> <\/p>\n\n Contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Tal Harris, Global Media Lead \u2013 Greenpeace International’s Stop Drilling Start Paying campaign, +41-782530550, tharris@greenpeace.org<\/a> <\/p>\n\n