By Rachel Reilly PUBLISHED: 18:05 EST, 14 August 2013 | UPDATED: 18:05 EST, 14 August 2013 Climate change will lock the world into more frequent and severe heatwaves in the next few decades, researchers have claimed. They say there will be a 'several-fold' increase in heatwaves up to 2040, regardless of how much carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere, but future efforts to slash pollution could stem the rise in extreme heat events later on in the century. The last decade has seen an exceptional number of extreme heatwaves around the world, hitting the U.S. in 2012, Russia in 2010, Australia in 2009, and Europe in 2003 with damaging impacts on health, the economy, agriculture and wildlife.
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The last decade has seen a number of extreme heatwaves around the world -  the U.S. in 2012, Russia in 2010, Australia in 2009, and Europe in 2003
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Experts claim there will be a 'several-fold' increase in heatwaves up to 2040, regardless of how much carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere
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But future efforts to slash pollution could stem the rise in extreme heat events later on in the century
In @placeholder, around a fifth of summer months will record temperatures will above the seasonal norms, though the most extreme heatwaves will be essentially absent, the scientists said.