Heatwaves are Europe’s new normal

Europe's latest heatwave should be a wake-up call, temperatures reaching 35°C in parts of France and the United Kingdom would once have been considered exceptional. Today, they are becoming increasingly common. What was once described as a 'once in a generation' event now seems to occur every summer, showcasing a reality that many governments have been slow to confront: climate change is no longer a future threat. It is already reshaping everyday life across Europe.
The problem is not only that temperatures are rising, it is that much of Europe was never designed to cope with such heat. For centuries, homes, public buildings and infrastructure were built with cold winters in mind. Thick walls, insulation, smaller windows and construction methods that trap heat make perfect sense when temperatures regularly drop close to freezing. However, when summer temperatures climb into the mid 30s or higher, these same features become a problem.
Many European homes do not have air conditioning. In countries such as France and the UK, air conditioning has traditionally been viewed as unnecessary, expensive or environmentally unfriendly. As a result, millions of people find themselves living in homes that become unbearably hot during heatwaves. In some apartments, temperatures indoors can actually become higher than outside because there is little airflow and heat accumulates throughout the day.
For many residents, surviving a heatwave has become a daily routine. Curtains and shutters remain closed throughout the day to block sunlight. Windows stay shut until evening, when cooler air finally arrives. People sleep with fans running continuously or struggle through sleepless nights in overheated bedrooms. What used to be occasional discomfort is increasingly becoming a seasonal reality.
Recent heatwaves have repeatedly disrupted rail networks, roads, and public transport systems. Extreme temperatures place enormous pressure on electrical systems, rail tracks and signalling equipment. During the recent heatwave in France, at the end of May, a train was left stranded for hours after electrical problems caused a complete breakdown. Air conditioning stopped working while passengers, including young children, waited in difficult conditions before they could be evacuated. Similar incidents have occurred across Europe as ageing infrastructure struggles to function under temperatures it was never designed to withstand.
According to the French public health agency Santé publique France, more than 5,000 people died during the severe heatwaves of summer 2023, with extreme heat identified as a major contributing factor. Older adults, people with chronic illnesses, young children and those living in poorly ventilated housing are particularly vulnerable. High temperatures can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, cardiovascular complications and respiratory distress. Even healthy individuals can experience serious consequences if exposed to prolonged heat without adequate cooling.
The danger is often underestimated because heatwaves do not produce dramatic images in the same way floods, hurricanes or wildfires do. There are no collapsed buildings or spectacular scenes of destruction. Instead, the effects are quieter but also potentially deadly. Hospitals become overwhelmed and ambulance services receive more emergency calls. Elderly people living alone suffer in silence. Workers in construction, agriculture and transport face dangerous conditions simply by doing their jobs.
Climate scientists have repeatedly warned that Europe is warming faster than the global average. According to the European Environment Agency, Europe is the fastest warming continent, with temperatures rising at roughly twice the global rate. This means that heatwaves like the current one are likely to become more frequent, more intense, and longer lasting in the years ahead.
Urban areas are particularly vulnerable because of the 'heat island effect,' where concrete, asphalt and buildings absorb and retain heat. This can make cities several degrees hotter than surrounding rural areas. As populations continue to grow, these conditions are likely to worsen unless significant changes are made. Governments will need to rethink how cities are designed and managed. One of the simplest and most effective solutions is increasing urban green spaces. Trees provide shade, lower temperatures and improve air quality. Cities such as Paris, London and Madrid have already begun expanding tree planting programmes, but much more needs to be done.
Building standards must also evolve. New housing developments should be designed with heat resilience in mind, incorporating better ventilation, reflective materials, shaded outdoor areas and energy-efficient cooling systems. Public transport networks and rail infrastructure must be upgraded to withstand higher temperatures. Cooling centres should become a standard feature in cities, providing vulnerable populations with safe spaces during extreme heat events.
What makes this situation particularly frustrating is that the science has been clear for decades. Experts warned that rising global temperatures would lead to more extreme weather events, including heatwaves. Yet many governments treated these warnings as distant concerns rather than immediate challenges.