What this desert city can teach the world about tackling heat deaths
Phoenix, Arizona, is being studied as a model for global cities to combat rising heat-related deaths caused by climate change. The city's proactive measures, such as cooling centers and free air conditioning, are helping residents cope with increasingly extreme temperatures.
Why it matters
As extreme heat becomes a global norm, Phoenix's infrastructure and public health strategies offer a vital blueprint for urban survival.
Image source, Getty Images By Ana Faguy Published 4 hours ago It has been a blisteringly hot summer for much of the US and Europe.
Scientists have warned that these extreme temperatures are the new normal for these communities.
France reported an increase of more than 2,000 deaths during the record-breaking heatwave in late June. In England and Wales, scientists estimated that more than 2,700 people may have died from heat-related causes from a series of heatwaves since May.
And in the US, at least 44 heat-related deaths were reported over the 4 July holiday weekend from the extreme weather.
For many, the rising temperatures have been a shock to the system, a new reality people have had to adjust to as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense with climate change.
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