France, July 25 -- Numerous European countries are suffering drought conditions this summer. France fears it may have its smallest maize crop in 50 years, while Romania has restricted farmers' access to ​water for irrigation, the Netherlands declared a water shortage last week and seven Greek islands have declared drought emergencies to preserve water.

Climate change was not the cause of the lack of rain in April to June this year, according to analysis by the World Weather Attribution. Rather, climate change's role in the ongoing drought is that it has directly contributed to the extreme heat which is accelerating how much water evaporates out of soils.

Evaporation-potential conditions were 80 times more likely in western Europe ...