Achieving net-zero carbon emissions can reduce the intensity, duration, and frequency of heat waves

Haxie Meyers-Belkin is pleased to welcome Dr. Chloe Brimacombe. She presents a clear and sobering analysis of the current European heatwave as both a meteorological event and a societal stress test. Her argument is that the exceptional temperatures affecting France are not merely unusual because of their intensity, but because they combine several compounding factors: their early arrival in the season, elevated humidity that amplifies health risks, and a broader trend toward longer and more frequent heatwaves across Europe. While she emphasizes the continued necessity of decarbonization and achieving net-zero emissions, her analysis focuses equally on adaptation. Schools, hospitals, care homes, and public infrastructure must be redesigned for a hotter climate.