The European heatwave of 2003 was one of the hottest summers on record, leading to thousands of deaths, widespread forest fires, and significant agricultural losses across the continent. This extreme weather event highlighted the vulnerabilities of temperate regions to climate change and prompted discussions about public health and environmental resilience. The impacts of the heatwave have influenced policy discussions on climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in Europe.

European poets responded with works on heat, mortality, and altered seasons, bolstering contemporary ecopoetry that interrogates Anthropocene realities and historical weather extremes.