Monday briefing: Will the heatwave spark action, or further inflame the culture wars?

Last week's intense heatwave across Europe, affecting over 150 million people with temperatures soaring past 40C, should ideally spur urgent political action on the climate crisis. However, paradoxically, it might also reinforce support for climate-skeptical parties, deepening existing cultural divides. This extreme weather highlights the urgency of addressing global heating but risks being exploited to push divisive political agendas rather than constructive action. The outcome could set a critical precedent for how societies respond to climate-induced crises.