Extreme heat waves have swept across Europe this week, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius. Some areas in Spain and Portugal recorded temperatures hotter than the Sahara Desert. Authorities are advising people to stay indoors, schools have shut down, wildfires are spreading, and nuclear power plants are reducing their output due to warm rivers affecting their cooling systems. The World Health Organization reports that over 1,300 deaths in Europe can be linked to the recent heatwave.
Europe has historically designed its infrastructure, including cities, residences, public areas, and tourism offerings, with the expectation of warm but manageable summers. However, this paradigm is shifting as the continent faces a climate that no longer aligns with its built environment.
The Guardian’s Europe environment correspondent, Ajit Niranjan, discusses the repercussions of an entire continent realizing it was developed for a climate that is rapidly evolving.
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