Europe is experiencing a severe heatwave, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius in many regions. Some areas in Spain and Portugal have been hotter than the Sahara Desert. Authorities are urging people to stay indoors, schools have shut down, wildfires are spreading, and nuclear power plants are reducing output due to warm river temperatures affecting cooling efficiency. The World Health Organization reports over 1,300 heat-related deaths in Europe since June 21st.
Traditionally, Europe’s infrastructure and lifestyle were designed around the expectation of warm but manageable summers. However, this paradigm is shifting as the continent grapples with a changing climate. The Guardian’s Europe environment correspondent, Ajit Niranjan, discusses the implications of an entire continent realizing its infrastructure no longer aligns with the current climate reality.
