Wildfire Crisis: More than 10,000 people were evacuated overnight in southwestern France as a fast-moving wildfire near Bordeaux burned about 2,000 hectares, with officials warning the risk of new blazes remains very high; across southern Europe, heat and dry conditions are driving repeated fire outbreaks, including deadly incidents in Italy and France. Heat & Health Toll: France reported 5,764 excess deaths from an early-summer heatwave (June 17–July 2), revising earlier estimates and underscoring how extreme heat is becoming a lethal, recurring threat. Drought Pressure: A scientific assessment says climate change is worsening Europe’s drought, drying water supplies, disrupting farming and even affecting shipping. Air Quality & Heat Link: New UK research suggests falling pollution levels (aerosols) are letting more sunlight reach the ground, helping explain why Britain and western Europe are warming faster and seeing more heatwaves. Desert Dust Risks: A Nature study links intensifying desert-dust intrusions to climate-driven shifts, raising air-pollution and health impacts across southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, with Cyprus highlighted. Policy & Money: Eurostat data shows EU environmental tax revenues rose 6.1% in 2024, while Latvia’s €617m Social Climate Plan got EU backing to support cleaner buildings and transport for vulnerable households.