Europe is experiencing record-breaking temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius this week, surpassing the heat in parts of Spain and Portugal compared to the Sahara Desert. Governments are advising citizens to remain indoors, schools are shutting down, wildfires are spreading, and nuclear reactors are scaling back operations due to warmer rivers hindering efficient cooling. The World Health Organization reports that over 1,300 deaths in Europe can be attributed to the heat since June 21st.
For decades, European cities, residences, public areas, and tourism sector were designed based on the expectation of tolerable summer heat. However, this assumption is evolving. The Guardian’s Europe environment correspondent, Ajit Niranjan, discusses the repercussions of an entire continent realizing it was structured for a climate that no longer prevails. To access 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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