Europe's aging cold-weather infrastructure struggles as heatwaves intensify

Europe is facing a growing crisis as its buildings and urban infrastructure, historically designed to retain heat during cold winters, are proving dangerously ill-suited for extreme summer temperatures. Temperatures reaching 40°C and above are turning homes and structures into heat traps, contributing to a rise in heat-related deaths across the continent. The strain on infrastructure is becoming increasingly visible as record-breaking heatwaves grow more frequent. Experts and urban planners are now calling for a fundamental rethink of how European cities are designed and built. The situation underscores the urgent need to adapt built environments to the realities of a warming climate.