The "sad inevitability" of Europe's heat wave

Europe is experiencing its second major heat wave of the year, with record-breaking temperatures and significant impacts across the continent. France recorded its hottest day ever, with some locations exceeding 44 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat has led to approximately 40 drownings in local water bodies, with individuals likely seeking relief from the high temperatures, and thousands of people are experiencing power outages. In the United Kingdom, temperatures reached 36 degrees Celsius in some areas, prompting school cancellations and widespread train delays. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described London as "cooking" during the city's Climate Action Week. The UK meteorological service issued a red alert for multiple regions, forecasting exceptionally hot and humid weather that is expected to affect the public. Switzerland and Spain have also issued heat warnings to their residents. Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the UK's National Heat Risk Commission, highlighted that a lack of air conditioning in homes contributes to the heat resilience problem in the country.