The first half of 2026 has already been marked by record-breaking warmth found to be “virtually impossible without climate change.” A late spring heat dome marked the hottest March on record in the US, followed by a persistent European heatwave in May that smashed records in the UK and France. That same month, a deadly heatwave swept across South Asia, with some areas in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh seeing temperatures soar 45-50 degrees Celsius (113-122 degrees Fahrenheit). This is likely only the beginning, as an emerging strong El Niño will further push global temperatures to unprecedented levels for the remainder of this year — with some climate scientists predicting that 2026 will end up being the hottest year on record.
Climate scientists agree that every heatwave in the world is now made stronger and more likely to happen because of human-caused climate change. That’s a pretty big, encompassing statement — but it’s a climate connection newsrooms can report on with the utmost confidence, and should, as heat kills more people than any other extreme weather event. According to the UN, extreme heat has killed nearly half a million people each year since 2000, about 30 times more than tropical cyclones.
Now more than ever, journalists have to help audiences understand its climate connection: Climate change is making the planet hotter; climate change is caused mainly by burning oil, gas, and coal; therefore, temperatures will keep going up until oil, gas, and coal are phased out.
As our fellow journalists around the world report on extreme heat in the weeks and months ahead, here are a few tips and tools to help you out, including concise, scientifically vetted language making the climate connection that you can insert directly into your copy.
Extreme Heat Resources
Connect extreme heat to climate change and fossil fuels. Adding a few words to your coverage is all it takes to make these connections. Here’s some sample language you can use:
- Scientists agree that climate change drives extreme weather like today’s record-breaking high temperatures.
- Heatwaves like this one are now more common and more intense as a result of human-caused climate change.
- Climate change is mostly caused by burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal, which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, warming Earth.
Familiarize yourself with how climate change is influencing heatwaves. Check out other resources from us at CCNow, including our Locally Sourced newsletter, and this great guide from World Weather Attribution, available in over a dozen languages, that includes the latest scientific understanding.
Share safety information. People with disabilities, older adults, children, pregnant people, unhoused people, incarcerated people, and outdoor workers are some of the groups most vulnerable to extreme heat. When reporting on extreme heat, help audiences by sharing safety tips.
Choose visuals carefully. While it may be tempting to make light of heat by using “fun in the sun” photos, such as people eating ice cream or crowded pools, it’s more accurate to use images that reflect the seriousness of the situation.
Remember, heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths; our coverage and our visuals should support that. Opt for photos that show people struggling with heat (like crowded cooling centers or workers struggling under heat conditions) or signage warning of high temperatures. You can see some examples here.
Use Climate Central’s reporting tools. The scientists at Climate Central have an attribution tool called Climate Shift Index that journalists around the world can use to help audiences understand how much more likely climate change is making extreme heat episodes. Enter your city to find out how much climate change is influencing temperature there on a particular day.
For US reporters, see Climate Central’s 2026 Summer Package with customizable graphics (available in English and Spanish).
This resource was updated on June 10, 2026.
