Heatwaves are no longer exceptions. They are a season

Until a few summers ago, heatwaves appeared in news bulletins as extraordinary events. Across much of the world they are now an ordinary part of summer. Weeks of high temperatures, nights that never cool down and oppressive humidity are changing the rhythm of urban life.

We need to look at who bears the brunt. Older people, young children, those with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers and people living in poorly ventilated homes are the most exposed to the health effects of extreme heat. The climate crisis affects everyone, but it does not affect everyone equally.

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Adaptation is not a crisis plan. It is a city plan

Most responses to heatwaves so far have been short-term emergency measures: warning messages, temporary cooling centres, advice to stay indoors at midday. These are necessary. But now that extreme heat returns every summer like a regular guest, adaptation must be woven into the permanent fabric of our towns.

A city's resilience to heat is measured by how safe its most vulnerable resident is on its hottest day.

There are inspiring examples to learn from. Cities that treat street trees not as decoration but as infrastructure. Building rules that encourage light-coloured roofs and paving. School playgrounds redesigned with shade and greenery in place of bare asphalt. Drinking fountains installed at bus stops and in public squares. Each of these steps lowers surface temperatures and makes daily life more bearable.

Working life is a crucial part of the picture. In outdoor jobs such as construction, farming and delivery work, shifts rearranged around the hottest hours, shaded rest areas and easy access to water must become a standard part of occupational health and safety. These are not matters to be left to goodwill.

Neighbourliness can be a quiet shield too. Knocking on the door of an older neighbour who lives alone and checking that they have somewhere cool to be can make a vital difference during a heatwave. Some councils now run volunteer networks for exactly these hot-day visits, a low-cost measure with a high return.

Tackling climate change requires long-term decisions to cut emissions. But adapting to the hot summers we are already living through is too urgent to wait. A shaded street, a classroom that stays cool, a building site where people can work safely: the language of adaptation is spoken most clearly in these concrete details.