Heat aggravated by carbon pollution killed 50,000 in Europe last year – study

Continent is warming at much faster rate than other parts of world, leading to fires, drought and health problems

Hot weather inflamed by carbon pollution killed nearly 50,000 people in Europe last year, with the continent warming at a much faster rate than other parts of the world, research has found.

The findings come as wildfires tore through forests outside Athens, as France issued excessive heat warnings for large swathes of the country, and the UK baked through what the Met Office expects will be its hottest day of the year.