Leaders | Global warming
Simple steps to stop people dying from heatwaves
As much of the world roasts, don’t despair
![A woman splashes her face with water to cool off during a hot summer day in New Delhi, India on June 17th 2024](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240629_LDP501.jpg)
WHEN A HEATWAVE in Europe killed more than 70,000 people in 2003, it was seen as a once-in-a-millennium event. Today, experts say, such blistering heat can be expected once a decade. Worldwide, last year the months of June, July and August were the hottest on record. August 2023 was on average 1.5°C hotter than the same month between 1850 and 1900. This year could be even worse.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Hot and bothered”
Leaders June 29th 2024
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