2026 almost certain to be hottest year on record, though last week's storms were not climate-driven
An exceptional El Niño is pushing global temperatures to a peak. Brussels is preparing an EU plan to insure climate damage.
An exceptionally strong El Niño is pushing global temperatures to record highs, and the US institute Berkeley Earth is now almost certain that 2026 will be the warmest year since records began, De Tijd reports.
That does not make every storm a climate phenomenon. VRT NWS explains that storms Austen and Boelo, which hit Belgium within two days, were driven mainly by the jet stream high in the atmosphere, a typical autumn phenomenon, and less by warmer seawater. Weather presenter Jill Peeters tells De Standaard that the coming winter could be extremely cold if the jet stream shifts a little further.
On the policy front, European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra this week presents what he calls a historic package to make Europe more resilient to climate risks and to better insure climate damage, ANP reports. It would be the first plan for European legislation in this area.