Europe is experiencing record-breaking heat waves this week, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in many areas. Some regions in Spain and Portugal have even surpassed the scorching temperatures of the Sahara Desert.
Authorities are advising people to stay indoors, schools have shut down, wildfires are spreading, and nuclear facilities are scaling back operations due to rivers being too warm to efficiently cool the reactors. The World Health Organization reports that over 1,300 deaths in Europe have been linked to the recent heatwave since June 21.
Traditionally, Europe’s infrastructure and urban planning have been designed with the expectation of tolerable summer heat. However, with the changing climate, this assumption is being challenged.
Ajit Niranjan, The Guardian’s correspondent covering environmental issues in Europe, discusses the implications of an entire continent realizing it was built for a climate that no longer aligns with reality.
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