Europe’s escalating heat toll reveals a lag between warming climate and preparedness

Europe is facing thousands of heat‑related deaths each year as climate change intensifies extreme heat, driven by an aging population and homes that aren’t built to stay cool. Despite lessons from 2003, mortality remains high with limited AC access and uneven protections across cities and countries, highlighting patchy measures and the need for long‑term adaptation—retrofitting buildings, cooling centers, stronger regulations, and better social services—before summers grow even hotter.