Europe, which endured a record heat wave, is strengthening heat-wave measures for hospitals and schools in case extreme heat continues next year.
According to Bloomberg on the 3rd (local time), the U.K. Met Office forecast there is a strong chance that Europe's temperatures in 2027 will rise to levels similar to 2024, which set the all-time high. With a powerful El Niño developing, there are concerns that heat waves, drought, and wildfires could continue next summer as well.
This summer, Europe suffered major damage as it went weeks without rain and faced record highs above 40 degrees, poor harvests, and large wildfires. Power and water supplies were cut, and trade was disrupted.
In hospitals, nurses collapsed from the heat, and some surgeries were postponed because of the heat wave. According to the Guardian, a provisional tally shows at least 35,000 more people died in Europe than during the same period in an average year.
Beatrice Mosello, a senior researcher at the U.K. think tank Chatham House, said, "Heat waves and wildfires have become direct evidence that people can no longer ignore before their eyes," and added, "This is not a one-off event that causes disruption for a period and ends, but something that is affecting multiple areas of the economy and society."
Perceptions among residents who experienced the heat wave firsthand have also changed. After a record heat wave in France in Jul., a survey by polling firm Ipsos found responses saying they worry about environmental issues rose by 12 percentage points. A similar trend appeared in Austria and the U.K. Researchers analyzed that this was because residents experienced the heat directly and felt the government was not properly prepared.
European countries have begun to roll out heat-wave measures. Germany's Environment Ministry is pushing to amend the constitution so the central government bears greater responsibility for climate change response. The judgment is that local governments alone find it hard to secure the necessary personnel and budgets. Spain will increase "climate shelters" where residents can escape the heat and expand support for installing cooling systems in schools.
Hospitals in Europe are particularly vulnerable to heat waves. Many are located in old buildings in city centers and lack sufficient cooling systems. Chris Naylor, a senior researcher at the U.K. health policy institute The King's Fund, said, "I am optimistic that the National Health Service (NHS) will treat heat-wave measures as a higher priority," but added, "It is hard to be sure whether we can be ready by the summer of 2027."
The NHS said it improved working conditions for staff by installing portable air conditioners and changing work attire. However, installing air conditioning and insulation in hundreds of hospitals is likely to require considerable time and expense.
The spread of air conditioners has also created a new burden. If cooling demand surges, the power grid could be overloaded in summer. The U.K. grid operator repeatedly warned that there could be disruptions to power supply this summer.
Emma Howard Boyd, Chairperson of the U.K. National Heat Risk Committee, predicted that because this year's heat wave led to wildfires, trade disruptions, and power and water supply shutdowns, practical countermeasures could be produced this time.
Boyd said, "All government bodies must accept that the weather will get hotter," and added, "Even after summer ends and temperatures drop, we must not forget what happened this year if we are to be better prepared next year."