· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The New York Times or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Europe is bracing for another extremely hot summer, with meteorologists predicting high temperatures similar to last year's record-breaking heat waves
• Tourists and local officials are preparing for the challenges posed by prolonged heat and potential wildfires
🔭 The context: Last summer, temperatures in southern Europe soared to 118 degrees, causing heat exhaustion among tourists and evacuations due to wildfires
• Europe has been warming at twice the global average since 1991, making it the fastest-warming continent and increasing the frequency of severe heat waves
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Prolonged extreme heat exacerbates health risks, strains local infrastructure, and raises the urgency for cities to implement adaptation measures
• The growing trend of excessive heat also highlights the broader impacts of climate change on travel and tourism
⏭️ What's next: Cities like Athens are implementing measures such as appointing heat officers, increasing green spaces, and using apps to help residents and tourists navigate the heat
• Travel advisers are adjusting itineraries to cooler parts of the day and adding features like high heat protection to travel insurance
💬 One quote: “Heat is a silent killer and projections for the coming years show that it will only get worse, so we are redesigning our city and making changes to adapt,” said Elissavet Bargianni, chief heat officer for Athens
📈 One stat: Flight searches for Tromsø, Norway, have increased by 85% over 2023 as travelers seek cooler destinations
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