Western Europe is currently grappling with a “new reality” of back-to-back storms and unprecedented soil saturation, which scientists warn is a direct consequence of global heating amplifying rain intensity. Despite the clear effects of climate change, denial persists, with far-right parties and some political leaders pushing back against climate policies. . This retreat from climate action is being encouraged by the U.S. administration, which has pressured global agencies like the IEA to remove climate scenarios from their energy models. The consequences of this inaction are stark, as seen in the deadly floods in Valencia, where delayed warnings resulted in 229 deaths.
Date: February 21, 2026. Source: theguardian.com