Europe Heatwaves 2024: Why Europe is hotter, how to stay cool, and what it means for travel and health

Overview

Europe is grappling with record heat, with many areas exceeding 40C and wildfires spreading across several countries. The Guardian’s Science Weekly brings together meteorologists and health experts to explain why Europe is warming so rapidly, the health risks involved, and practical ways to stay cool. The discussion highlights the body’s cooling mechanisms, such as sweating and vasodilation, and concrete actions like morning ventilation, staying hydrated, and using cool showers. The episode also considers travel implications, shifts in holiday planning, and larger climate adaptation in Europe, including a forthcoming climate assembly in London.

Overview: Europe faces record heat and health risks

In the episode, The Guardian reports a heatwave across southwest Europe with temperatures above 40C and wildfires spreading through Turkey, Montenegro, France, and Greece. The conversation situates these events within a broader climate context, noting Europe’s warming pace relative to the global average and the way heat reshapes everyday life, tourism, and local economies. The hosts and guests discuss how people are adapting travel plans, with terms like coolcations emerging as travelers seek milder climates in northern Europe. A climate assembly in London is announced as part of ongoing public engagement with climate policy.

“Europe has warmed about twice as fast as the global average.” - Ajit Naranjan, Guardian Europe environment correspondent

Why Europe is heating so quickly

The episode outlines several factors driving rapid European warming: polar amplification, warmer ocean and atmospheric currents delivering heat northward, shifts in atmospheric circulation, and the removal of certain aerosol pollutants that previously masked some solar radiation. The experts emphasize that these factors interact to produce more frequent and intense heat waves, especially in summer, and that climate breakdown also brings larger wildfire risks that further stress water and land resources.

“The poles are warming particularly fast.” - Ajit Naranjan

Health risks and human physiology

The scientists describe how heat can be deadly, especially for older people and those with pre-existing conditions, and note that heat mortality is a growing concern in Europe. They explain the body’s cooling methods in detail: sweating releases heat through evaporation, and vasodilation increases blood flow to the skin to shed heat. These mechanisms are efficient but can be overwhelmed by extreme conditions, requiring behavioral adaptations and practical cooling strategies.

“Sweating is one of our most efficient ways to increase our ability to dissipate heat from the body.” - Adam Taylor, Professor of Anatomy, Lancaster University

Practical cooling strategies

Listeners receive actionable guidance on staying cool: open windows to ventilate early in the day, shut them when heat peaks, and use curtains to block sun. Hydration is stressed as essential for maintaining sweating efficiency. The recommended approach to showers is cool rather than cold, around 26–27C, to continue sweating while cooling the core. Ice packs should target peripheral areas like wrists, forearms, ankles, and calves to maximize heat dissipation. The episode also challenges common assumptions about ice and cold drinks, noting that very cold ingestion requires the body to expend energy to rewarm the contents, while spicy or hot drinks can trigger sweating and cooling. Fans are not a universal solution; they can be counterproductive in extreme heat. The host notes gender differences in heat perception, attributable to fat distribution affecting heat dissipation, which can influence how households negotiate thermostats.

“The temperature of the water should be cool rather than cold in the region of 26, 27 degrees.” - Adam Taylor

“Fans are more effective when air temperatures are below 34C; beyond that, they can bring heat to the body.” - Adam Taylor

Travel, economy, and policy implications

The discussion connects heat to tourism and travel planning, suggesting that heat waves may shift holiday patterns toward earlier or later in the season or toward cooler northern destinations. Fire risk, insurance costs, and food prices are cited as potential economic impacts. The episode ends with a note about climate assembly and public engagement in climate policy, highlighting how individuals can participate in broader mitigation and adaptation efforts.

“Ventilating rooms by opening windows early in the day is essential.” - Ajit Naranjan

Outlook and takeaways

Overall, the episode emphasizes that Europe’s heat is a climate-driven phenomenon with health, travel, and economic implications. It encourages practical steps for individuals to stay cool, supports public health messaging around vulnerable populations, and points to policy avenues for addressing heat risks in a warming world.