Editorial Board
Help the World’s Cities Prepare for Extreme Heat
Dangerous heat waves could become longer and more frequent. Better warning systems and greener cities can help avert the worst.
Every job is harder in the heat.
Photographer: Matt Dunham/APWith a few weeks to go, the summer of 2022 has already breached some alarming milestones.
As India sweltered before the monsoon, temperatures in parts of New Delhi exceeded 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). In the US, millions suffered an almost unprecedented combination of heat and high humidity throughout July, while in wildfire-hit Europe, even Britain issued its first “red” warning, with London topping 40 degrees. Globally, June and July of this year ranked among the warmest months ever recorded.