--- title: "Heatwave in Europe and Climate Disputes: Why Washington and Brussels Cannot Agree" description: "Europe is suffering from record-breaking heat, schools are closing, and people are dying, but the US Energy Minister urges not to exaggerate the danger, citing winter statistics. 🌑️πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ While Brussels seeks ways to soften climate laws, Washington is cutting heat protection programs. The scientific community refutes American theses, pointing to a direct link between temperature and mortality." date: 2026-06-27T14:14:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/heatwave-in-europe-and-climate-disputes-why-washington-and-brussels-cannot-agree tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Heatwave in Europe and Climate Disputes: Why Washington and Brussels Cannot Agree ![People in Europe seek relief from intense heat using a fan and water spray, illustrating the impact of climate change](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/27/zhara-v-evrope-i-sporyi-o-klimate-pochemu-vashington-i-brussel-ne-mogut-dogovoritsya/zhara-v-evrope-i-sporyi-o-klimate-pochemu-vashington-i-brussel-ne-mogut-dogovoritsya-1.webp) Europe is experiencing anomalous heat, setting records in meteorological history. Temperature highs have been updated in the UK, France, Ireland, and Portugal. Extreme weather has already led to school closures, transport disruptions, and power supply interruptions. According to media reports, around 40 people died in France alone while trying to cool off in water bodies. However, the situation is assessed differently in Washington. US Energy Minister Chris Wright, speaking at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference, urged not to exaggerate the danger of summer heat. In his speech, he focused on mortality statistics from the winter of 2022, stating that cold is a more significant cause of death than heat. Wright also linked the rise in mortality to the consequences of rising energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The comments by the American official came against the backdrop of official warnings from European governments, which describe the current heatwave as a threat to life. The scientific community disagreed with Wright's theses. Friederike Otto, a professor of climatology at Imperial College London, noted that comparing mortality from heat and cold is impossible, as the link between high temperatures and fatal outcomes is much more direct. The scientist also pointed to a sharp rise in heat-related mortality in the Global South, particularly in Africa. The domestic political situation in the US also influences the approach to the problem. The Trump administration has cut programs aimed at reducing heat-related risks. In particular, proposed measures to protect workers were halted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Furthermore, amid rising electricity prices, exacerbated by the war in Iran, the administration proposed completely canceling a $4.5 billion program intended to help low-income households pay heating and cooling bills. European politicians, despite pressure from Washington, continue to seek solutions to the problem. EU legislators are debating the relaxation of the emissions trading system, while the bloc's energy ministers met under pressure from oil and gas producers to soften the law on reducing methane pollution. Meanwhile, Europe remains dependent on the US for natural gas supplies, having abandoned Russian resources. UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband responded directly to Washington's rhetoric. He reminded that after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many urged to ignore the first shock related to fossil fuels and return to normal life. According to him, facing a second shock just four years later, Europe is hearing the same arguments.