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In June and July 2025, Southern Europe experienced record-shattering heatwaves, with temperatures soaring well above 40 °C in several regions. Around the same time, a massive flood in Texas had devastating damages on infrastructure, and over 80 people lost their lives. Extreme weather events like these are happening with alarming frequency all around the world, and they are not isolated weather events. They are symptoms of a warming world and changes in the global climate system.
And the main driver of global warming are combustion emissions from fossil fuels. Here is what you need to know about the fossil fuel industry’s role in the increasing extreme weather.
What is Extreme Weather?
Extreme weather refers to rare, intense and dangerous weather events that threaten human lives, ecosystems, and infrastructure. This includes:
- Heatwaves
- Wildfires and droughts
- Torrential rains and flash floods
- Storm surges and hurricanes
- Landslides
Examples of Recent Extreme Weather Events
Wildfires in Canada and Hawaii 2023
In 2023 Canada experienced its worst wildfire season on record, fueled by record heat and dry conditions. Over 230 000 people were forced to evacuate their homes and millions were exposed to air pollution from the smoke. Similarly, in Hawaii, fires whipped by strong winds devastated the town of Lahaina, the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century.
Floods in Pakistan 2022
Over 33 million people were affected when monsoon rains and glacier melt led to catastrophic flooding of the Indus River in Pakistan. The heavy rain and flash floods led to landslides which destroyed crops and led to food shortages. Scientists say climate change made the disaster far more likely.
Flood in Valencia region in Spain 2024
In October 2024, the eastern part of Spain was hit by historic flash floods when a weather pattern known as gota fría delivered over a year’s worth of rain in just hours. These floods caused at least 230 fatalities, displaced thousands, and inflicted around €10–11 billion in economic damage. Climate scientists have linked the severity of the event to human-driven climate change, finding that the downpour was about 12% heavier and twice as likely due to global warming.
Heatwaves in Southern Europe 2025
In June and July 2025 Southern Europe, particularly Spain, Greece and France, experienced an intense heat wave with temperatures soaring above 40 °C. Climate scientists stress that the severity of these heat waves is directly linked to climate change, stating such extremes are more likely because of fossil-fuel-driven warming.
Read also: 10 effects of climate change
Is Extreme Weather Linked to Climate Change?
Yes, and the science is clear. As the climate warms, extreme weather becomes more frequent and more intense.
According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is certain that human-caused climate change has made heatwaves more frequent and intense. Several of the heatwaves the world has experienced over the past decade would, according to the UN, be extremely unlikely without human influence. In fact, over 70% of recent extreme weather events were made more likely or more damaging due to climate change, according to Carbon Brief.
And the primary reason behind the rising global temperatures is greenhouse gas emissions, mainly CO2 and methane, that comes from burning fossil fuels oil, gas and coal.
Emissions from burning fossil fuels traps more heat in the atmosphere and destabilises weather patterns. As the planet warms, we don’t just face hotter summers, our climate system becomes more volatile overall, leading to more devastating extreme weather. This is how oil companies, like Equinor, fuels the increasing extreme weather.
Read more: The Facts About Fossil Fuels and Climate Change
Fossil Fuel Companies Are Driving the Climate Chaos
Fossil fuel companies like Equinor are at the heart of the problem. Despite knowing the risks, Equinor pursues dangerous new drilling operations, from offshore projects in Norway to deepwater fields in Argentina and Brazil. This continued exploration and expansion of oil and gas projects pour more carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to heating our planet and driving extreme weather.
Equinor claims to be part of the climate solution. But as long as it continues to pursue new oil and gas fields across the world, it’s part of the problem.
Read also: What is energy transition, and why does Equinor’s energy transition plan fall short?
Polluters Must Take Responsibility and Pay Up
The financial toll of climate change is growing rapidly. While many of the damages such as lives lost and ecosystems destroyed, can never truly be compensated, significant funding is required to support emergency relief, rebuild communities, and strengthen infrastructure. In 2023 alone, climate-related disasters cost individuals and communities an estimated 300 billion US dollars.
The largest contributors to the crisis, wealthy countries and major polluting companies, must bear a fair portion of this cost. Despite having accrued vast wealth from fossil fuels, Norway has pledged only 270 million NOK (around 25 million USD) to the global loss and damage fund. Meanwhile, Equinor made billions of dollars last year and continues to invest heavily in fossil fuel expansion, contradicting climate science and undermining global efforts to limit warming.
Why Climate Justice Matters
Those suffering the worst consequences of climate change are often the ones who contributed least to the problem. Communities in the global south, along with marginalized groups worldwide, are being hit hardest by rising temperatures and extreme weather. The impacts fall unequally, affecting people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and low-income communities the most. These injustices only deepen existing inequalities across the world.
Climate justice means acknowledging the historical and ongoing responsibility of certain countries and corporations for driving the crisis. Yet, the biggest polluters continue to escape accountability for the harm they cause. That must change and urgent action is needed to ensure that those responsible for the crisis are held to account and made to contribute to its solutions.
Read also: Equinor continues to profit from climate-wrecking oil and gas
What Needs to Change?
There is no safe future with fossil fuels. To stop extreme weather from spiraling out of control, we need:
- A rapid and just phase-out of oil, gas, and coal
- A global shift to clean, renewable energy
- Strong policies that hold fossil fuel companies responsible
- International solidarity to support the most vulnerable communities
Every new barrel of oil increases the risk. Every new pipeline and offshore rig locks in more climate chaos.
What You Can Do
- Join the movement for a fossil-free future. Demand that companies like Equinor stop exploring for new oil
- Support local and global campaigns for climate justice. Find local campaigns here
- Share social media posts exposing Equnor’s profiteering on Instagram here and here, and on X/Twitter here and here
- Get involved in the campaign to get #EquinorOut of oil and gas. Find out more here