Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://mypepack.gophersport.com/video/?vid=JuckJr07imL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Record Heat Waves Are Preview of Our Future on a Warming Planet: Climate Writer David Wallace-Wells [2BSf2Fi4CMT] Health Updated on August 07, 2026 EDT — Published on August 07, 2026 EDT Support our work: A massive heat dome settled above the eastern half of the United States over the Fourth of July weekend, bringing triple-digit temperatures, disrupting travel and prompting emergency measures for millions of people. At least 25 people died in New Jersey due to extreme heat and humidity, and more than 185 million people — over half of U.S. residents — were under heat alerts over the weekend. This follows a record-shattering European heat wave that's been blamed for thousands of deaths across Spain, France and Germany. Climate scientists say the burning of fossil fuels is the primary cause of global warming and the reason why heat waves are becoming longer, hotter and more frequent. "Global warming is accelerating past thresholds that we used to consider unacceptable," says climate journalist David Wallace-Wells. "There are a lot of questions about why we haven't prepared adequately for these heat waves," says Wallace-Wells, but he argues that it is still possible to retrofit the planet to mitigate the climate catastrophe. Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: xmSYUzDzrpf DAGd4jURyB0 77w7t4nNzme NB0NJj9yoVj OqLpa2I2vSc 4J09Kvg5udq dGVH6U4Ap93 ft7IeB3jHeN
Support our work: A massive heat dome settled above the eastern half of the United States over the Fourth of July weekend, bringing triple-digit temperatures, disrupting travel and prompting emergency measures for millions of people. At least 25 people died in New Jersey due to extreme heat and humidity, and more than 185 million people — over half of U.S. residents — were under heat alerts over the weekend. This follows a record-shattering European heat wave that's been blamed for thousands of deaths across Spain, France and Germany. Climate scientists say the burning of fossil fuels is the primary cause of global warming and the reason why heat waves are becoming longer, hotter and more frequent. "Global warming is accelerating past thresholds that we used to consider unacceptable," says climate journalist David Wallace-Wells. "There are a lot of questions about why we haven't prepared adequately for these heat waves," says Wallace-Wells, but he argues that it is still possible to retrofit the planet to mitigate the climate catastrophe. Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: xmSYUzDzrpf DAGd4jURyB0 77w7t4nNzme NB0NJj9yoVj OqLpa2I2vSc 4J09Kvg5udq dGVH6U4Ap93 ft7IeB3jHeN