Europe is experiencing record-breaking heat this week, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in many areas. Some regions in Spain and Portugal have even surpassed the heat levels of the Sahara Desert.
As a result of the extreme heat, authorities are advising people to stay indoors, schools have been shut down, wildfires are spreading, and nuclear power plants are reducing their output due to warm river temperatures hindering their cooling processes. The World Health Organization has reported 1,300 heat-related deaths in Europe since June 21st.
Traditionally, European cities, homes, and infrastructure were designed under the assumption that summers would be warm but manageable. However, this long-held belief is now being challenged as the climate shifts.
Ajit Niranjan, The Guardian’s correspondent focusing on Europe’s environment, joins the discussion to explore the consequences of an entire continent realizing it was structured for a climate that no longer exists.
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