This summer, record temperatures across Europe and the United States have dominated headlines. Images of heat maps, school closures, and wildfires are now familiar.
Public officials advise staying indoors and using air conditioning.
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However, extreme heat is becoming deadly unless you can afford to escape it. In the US and Europe, millions struggle with rising electricity bills.
In the global south, dangerous heat meets unreliable power, poor housing, and weak health systems.
Inequality within and among countries will decide the fate of millions. Solutions exist: help low-income families with cooling, invest in resilient infrastructure, and adopt clean technologies.
The question is political will.
Extreme heat kills about 2,000 people annually in the US. Europe's June heat dome claimed over 1,300 lives.
Low-income energy assistance is a core solution in the US, where most homes have electricity and cooling.
In the global south, the challenge is different.
During a visit to India, officials understood what needed to be done: expand electricity, improve housing, and increase access to cooling.
Their obstacle was lack of resources.
The Lancet estimates hundreds of thousands die from heat each year, with the burden growing fastest in south Asia and Africa.
The UN warns extreme heat widens inequality and slows development. Those most at risk contributed least to emissions.
The solution is not simply shipping air conditioners to developing countries. Many grids cannot support them.
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