Record-breaking heat waves across Europe killed approximately 1,000 people in France and 1,300 across the continent in late June 2026, with mortuaries overwhelmed and temperatures exceeding 40C in multiple countries. The deaths were largely preventable through adequate cooling infrastructure and emergency response systems, making Reich's criticism about prioritizing fossil fuel industry interests over climate action a commentary on policy choices, not unfounded alarm. Reich frames this as a historical judgment call — implying future generations will assess current leaders' climate policies — which is analysis rather than a factual claim, though the underlying heat-death facts are well-documented.