Key facts
- Temperatures are forecast to reach 40°C in Central Europe.
- Central European buildings and infrastructure are not designed for extreme heat.
- Air conditioning is uncommon in Central Europe.
- London faces substantial financial costs due to extreme heat.
- Mayor Sadiq Khan stated private investment is needed for London's heat resilience.
- The 'Heat Ready London' plan aims to protect residents and retrofit buildings.
- European trade unions are demanding a maximum working temperature law.
- Trade unions propose 'cooling breaks' for workers.
- The European Green Party is calling for an emergency EU summit.
- The summit would aim to strengthen climate protections and the Green Deal.
Central European countries are ill-equipped to handle an impending heatwave, with temperatures forecast to reach 40°C. Unlike Mediterranean nations, the region's buildings and infrastructure are not designed for extreme heat, and air conditioning is uncommon, raising concerns for public health and services. London is also facing substantial financial costs due to extreme heat, according to Mayor Sadiq Khan, who stated that private investment is necessary to implement the "Heat Ready London" plan. This plan aims to protect residents, retrofit buildings, and improve infrastructure resilience against increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves.
Across the continent, European trade unions are urging the European Commission to establish a maximum working temperature law. They cite the growing threat of heat stress to millions of workers and propose measures such as 'cooling breaks.' The European Green Party is calling for an emergency summit of EU leaders to strengthen climate protections and the Green Deal. They frame the record-breaking heatwave across Western Europe as a public health crisis that requires urgent attention and enhanced climate action.
The lack of preparedness in Central Europe stems from infrastructure not being designed for such extreme temperatures, a contrast to regions accustomed to higher heat. London's financial strain underscores the growing economic impact of climate change, necessitating proactive adaptation strategies and investment. The union and Green Party demands highlight a broader societal and political response to the escalating climate crisis, pushing for regulatory changes and high-level policy discussions to address the immediate threats and long-term sustainability.