Europe is currently experiencing a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many regions. Parts of Spain and Portugal have even surpassed the heat levels of the Sahara Desert.
Authorities are advising people to remain indoors, schools have been shut down, wildfires are spreading, and nuclear power plants are reducing their output due to the warm rivers affecting their cooling systems. The World Health Organization has reported 1,300 fatalities in Europe attributed to the heat since June 21st.
Traditionally, European cities, buildings, public areas, and tourism were designed with the expectation of warm but tolerable summers. However, this assumption is now being challenged by the changing climate.
Ajit Niranjan, The Guardian’s correspondent on environmental issues in Europe, discusses the repercussions of an entire continent realizing it was structured for a climate that no longer aligns with reality. Subscribe to the Front Burner podcast for more insights.
