Europe's extreme heat is threatening Italy's 800-year-old Parmesan tradition

Summer in Europe has always been warm, but what the continent is experiencing now is different. Heatwaves are becoming hotter, lasting longer, and arriving more often. Streets, hospitals, farms, and power systems are all feeling the strain.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Region is warming faster than any other WHO region. Temperatures here are rising at nearly twice the global average. The three warmest years ever recorded in the region have all occurred since 2020, while the ten warmest years have all been recorded since 2007.The consequences extend well beyond rising temperatures. Heat stress has become the leading cause of climate-related deaths in the region, with heat-related mortality increasing by around 30% over the past two decades.