Europe is experiencing extreme heat with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in many areas, surpassing the heat of the Sahara Desert in parts of Spain and Portugal. As a result, governments are advising citizens to stay indoors, schools have closed, wildfires are spreading, and nuclear reactors are operating at reduced capacity due to warm river temperatures hindering efficient cooling. The World Health Organization has reported 1,300 deaths in Europe attributed to the heat since June 21st.
Traditionally, Europe’s infrastructure and lifestyle were designed under the assumption that summers would be warm but manageable. However, this long-standing assumption is being challenged by the current heatwave. Ajit Niranjan, The Guardian’s Europe environment correspondent, discusses the repercussions of an entire continent grappling with a climate that no longer aligns with its infrastructure.
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