Can Europe’s historic cities survive a warming climate?
Summary
Europe is experiencing more frequent and intense heatwaves due to climate change, which is causing problems for historic cities like London and Paris. These cities were not built to handle high temperatures, and current efforts to adapt to the heat are not enough to protect people and buildings.Key Facts
- London recently had a heatwave with temperatures above 36°C (97°F), disrupting events like London Climate Action Week.
- The heatwave is caused by a pattern that brings hot air from North Africa and traps it over Europe.
- Europe is warming faster than other continents, making extreme heat more common and longer-lasting.
- Historic European cities were designed for cooler climates and often lack air conditioning and insulation to block heat.
- The 2003 heatwave killed around 70,000 people, and the 2022 heatwave caused over 60,000 heat-related deaths.
- Cities like Paris plan to plant more trees to reduce heat from buildings, and the EU supports new, climate-friendly housing.
- Most buildings in Europe are old, with nearly half being over 60 years old, making adaptation difficult.
- Preserving historic architecture while improving buildings for climate change is challenging, especially in places like Italy.
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