The world is adapting to extreme heat — but not nearly fast enough

A U.N. report finds the world's adaptation to extreme heat, from cooling centers to early warning systems, is not keeping pace with rising temperatures, with poor and wealthy nations alike falling short. This summer brought record heat to Western Europe, with at least 35,000 excess deaths estimated across just the first four of five heat waves in half the continent. Scientists point to El Niño and continued greenhouse gas emissions as pushing 2027 toward becoming the hottest year on record.

France's aggressive post-2003 heat plan, mandating air-conditioned nursing homes and building green space, has measurably reduced heat wave deaths, researchers say. But the U.N. report warns the world is already near 1.4 degrees C of warming and will likely overshoot the 1.5 degree target within years, with no scenario above 1.5 degrees rated as safe.

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