L.P. Hartley's novel 'The Go-Between' vividly captures the oppressive heat of a summer in 1900. Fast forward to today, and Europe is experiencing its most severe heatwave on record, with 380 million people facing temperatures above 30°C (86°F) on June 25th.
Climate change is the primary culprit, with greenhouse gas emissions heating up the planet at 0.27°C a decade. Europe, particularly, is warming faster than any other continent, with maximum daytime temperatures rising even faster.
Summer heatwaves are already the deadliest natural hazard in Europe, and the current heatwave is expected to claim 12,000 lives over three days, according to a model developed by academics. The heatwave's impact is exacerbated by high humidity, which makes it harder for humans to cool down.
As Europe struggles to cope with the heat, support for air-conditioning and cheaper electricity is becoming increasingly necessary. While not a silver bullet, these measures can help mitigate the effects of heatwaves and save lives.
Ultimately, the future requires a fundamental shift in how we live and adapt to a warming world. As Hartley's novel so eloquently puts it, 'The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.' In a world where the future is also a foreign country, we must learn to do things differently to survive.
