This week, temperatures in many parts of Europe soared above 40 degrees Celsius, surpassing even the heat of the Sahara Desert in Spain and Portugal.
Authorities are advising people to remain indoors, schools have shut down, wildfires are spreading, and nuclear power plants are reducing output due to warmer rivers affecting their cooling systems. The World Health Organization has reported 1,300 heat-related deaths in Europe since June 21st.
Europe has historically structured its urban areas, residences, public spaces, and tourism sector around the expectation of hot but tolerable summers. However, this long-held assumption is now being challenged.
Ajit Niranjan, The Guardian’s environmental correspondent for Europe, discusses the implications of an entire continent realizing it was developed for a climate that is evolving.
For transcripts of the Front Burner podcast, visit: [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts)
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