Europe is experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius in many areas this week. Some regions in Spain and Portugal are even hotter than the Sahara Desert. As a result, governments are advising people to stay indoors, schools are shutting down, wildfires are spreading, and nuclear reactors are reducing output due to rivers being too warm to cool them effectively. The World Health Organization reports that over 1,300 deaths in Europe have been attributed to the heat since June 21st.

Traditionally, Europe designed its cities, residences, public areas, and tourism sector based on the expectation of hot but tolerable summers. However, this assumption is now being challenged as the climate shifts. The Guardian’s Europe environment correspondent, Ajit Niranjan, discusses the consequences of an entire continent realizing it was constructed for a climate that no longer matches reality. To access transcripts of the Front Burner podcast, visit the provided link. Subscribe to Front Burner on various podcast platforms for more insightful discussions.