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Heatwaves, Accountability & Profit
The deadly problem staring us in the face.
Britain and Europe have just experienced one of the worst heatwaves in living memory, with temperatures climbing over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). However, unlike the last record-breaking single heatwave from the ’70s, this was no anomaly; it was the result of a stark upwards trend. The summer of 2024 was the hottest ever recorded until 2025 smashed that record, and now 2026 is set to possibly top that too. This is why scientists have found that this recent heatwave was impossible without man-made climate change. We also know that this heatwave has killed well over a thousand people and dealt serious damage to infrastructure, economies, and society. But hold on, we know who is responsible for, and profits hugely from, climate change: fossil fuel companies. In a just world, they would be made to pay for the damage their goods cause. But that isn’t happening. Why? Truth be told, there are a lot of reasons. This is a complex topic. But there is one glaringly obvious reason — taking accountability would destroy them. Let me explain.
But first, how much damage does climate change-induced extreme weather cause? Well, there are a few different ways of calculating that.
The charity Christian Aid found that the ten worst climate-related disasters of 2025 caused…
