Europe is experiencing intense heat waves with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in many regions. Some areas in Spain and Portugal have even surpassed the heat of the Sahara Desert.
Authorities are urging people to stay indoors as schools close and wildfires spread. The warm rivers are causing nuclear reactors to reduce their output due to inefficient cooling. The World Health Organization reports that over 1,300 deaths in Europe have been attributed to the heat since June 21st.
Traditionally, Europe has developed its infrastructure and tourism around the expectation of hot but manageable summers. However, this paradigm is shifting as the climate evolves.
Ajit Niranjan, The Guardian’s correspondent on European environmental issues, discusses the repercussions of an entire continent realizing it was designed for a climate that is no longer present.
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