Climate change is no longer an abstract threat but a harsh reality. Forest fires are raging so fiercely in Spain, France, and other European countries that some have declared a state of emergency. Meanwhile, roughly 300,000 to 360,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain due to wildfires.
In Belgium, the June 27 heatwave caused the highest level of excess mortality in decades. Statbel recorded approximately 650 deaths on June 27 and 640 on June 28. Sciensano subsequently estimated around 1,747 excess deaths during the heatwave, later revised to approximately 2,000.
No, there are hardly any climate deniers left. And yet the climate debate is stifled, and politicians’ initiatives to better protect the population from the heat are nowhere to be seen.
No more climate marches like those in 2019, and no Greta Thunberg. Instead, we saw the coronavirus, wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran, and the ensuing energy crises, inflation, and trade tariffs. But we need to reduce emissions and prepare for the new reality.
Fastest-warming continent
As recently as April, combined climate data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization showed that Europe is the fastest-warming continent, having warmed more than twice the global average.
The European continent is warming at a rate of 0.56 degrees Celsius per decade. Europe is now around 2.5°C warmer than in the pre-industrial period.
The 2035 car claim
In December 2025, the European Commission proposed replacing the existing 100% tailpipe-emissions reduction requirement for new cars in 2035 with a 90% target.
Under the proposal, plug-in hybrids, range extenders, mild hybrids, and some combustion-engine vehicles could continue beyond 2035, provided the remaining emissions are compensated through measures such as low-carbon steel, e-fuels, or biofuels. But it is still a legislative proposal requiring agreement from the European Parliament and the member states.
The ETS claim
The intention was to have an emissions-free industry in 2039, but the proposed ETS reform gives energy-intensive industries more time and weakens the near-term scarcity signal.
At the same time, the proposal retains the legally binding EU-wide target of a 90% net emissions reduction by 2040, and makes free permits conditional on decarbonization investment.
Climate concern
Climate has clearly lost short-term political salience in an era of overlapping crises (inflation, crime, and unemployment). Climate concern remains high, but climate has fallen down the ranking of voters’ immediate national priorities.
Apparently, alarmism has paralyzed citizens. Predictably enough, constantly proclaiming that the apocalypse is near failed to spur action. Research indicates that fear-based messages can provoke resistance or helplessness when people see no effective response.
What is even worse: the one-sided focus on elusive emissions targets blinded us to that other major challenge: adapting to the new reality.
According to Greta Thunberg and her allies, adaptation distracted from the real fight: forcing governments and companies to cut their emissions as quickly as possible. Adapting was seen as capitulating rather than fighting the root cause.
The truth is, of course, that we must do both: reduce emissions and prepare for the new reality. We are now paying a heavy price for our refusal to adapt. In human lives. And politicians had better be honest: making those adjustments will cost a lot of money, too.
