FILE - Salvation Army volunteer Francisca Corral, center, gives water to a man at a their Valley Heat Relief Station, July 11, 2023 in Phoenix. More Americans believe they've personally felt the impact of climate change because of recent extreme weather, including a summer that brought dangerous heat for much of the United States, according to new polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
Exceptional heat is gripping Europe. The United Kingdom saw its hottest June day, and France had its hottest day on record. Across the continent, basic services are being disrupted, and people are dying because of the heat. In the United States, much of the country is bracing for heatwave that could push parts of the East Coast above the century mark by the July 4th weekend. Extreme heat impacts energy production, public health, agriculture, infrastructure, and aviation. Yet, many people in the public view summer heat in very narrow ways. As officials and meteorologists warn about elevated heat risks, simplistic rebuttals like “It’s summer it is supposed to be hot” litter social media and backyard conversations. Such false narratives are dangerous. How do we overcome them?
