Record-Breaking Heat in June Highlights Global Strain, Sparks New Concerns Over Energy and Resilience

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June 2025 has gone down as the hottest ever recorded in 12 countries across four continents, including Pakistan, Nigeria, Japan, and Spain. According to a data analysis by Agence France-Presse (AFP), using records from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), at least 790 million people across Europe, Asia, and Africa faced their hottest June to date. Another 26 countries experienced their second-hottest June, underscoring the growing global strain from increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves.

These figures are part of a broader pattern of rising global temperatures, which have steadily increased over the past several decades. While the debate over long-term climate policy continues, the reality on the ground is becoming harder to ignore, particularly for countries in Central and South Asia. Pakistan, a country of 250 million people, experienced record-high temperatures in June, following what was already the warmest spring season (April through June) ever recorded in the region. Neighboring nations like Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan reported similar trends.

In practical terms, this means millions are grappling with the daily consequences of climate extremes. For the rural and working-class populations of countries like Pakistan and India, extended heatwaves are no longer an unusual event but an annual endurance test. The twin pressures of collapsing agricultural output and unreliable energy supply threaten already-vulnerable communities. “The heatwave arrived with an intensity that caught many off guard,” said Ayoub Khosa, a resident of Dera Murad Jamali, highlighting how unprepared much of the region remains for such rapid climate shifts.

It’s not just about record numbers; heat has real human consequences. Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures leads to health emergencies, disrupts daily economic activity, and places increased pressure on underdeveloped infrastructure. For developing nations, especially those dealing with political instability or poor governance, these conditions can compound existing hardships. In some places, there’s a growing sense that governments, particularly those focused more on maintaining power than serving their people, are failing to invest in the infrastructure and policy responses needed to protect their citizens.