EUROPE’S early summer heat wave is behind the over 1,300 excess deaths recorded on the continent since June 21, according to World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Germany hit 41.7 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days, the Czech Republic hit 41.1 C for two days, and the town of Pulluau in western France recorded 43.8 C. Many of the dead are aged 65 and older; and there is a 40-percent increase in the number of people, mostly elderly ones, dying at home. Some homes recorded indoor temperatures of 39 C.
European cities and their architecture were not built for extreme high temperatures. They were designed for cold-proofing and trapping heat during long winters. In the Philippines and tropical Asia in general, we have the benefit of our vernacular tropical architecture with passive cooling techniques via cross ventilation long overhanging eaves or roofs and, in better homes, courtyards and wind towers on staircases to let heat escape.
As European cities deal with another record-breaking heat wave, images of parched tourists, crowded cooling pools, and people rushing to purchase air conditioners and electric fans have captured the world's attention. Airconditioning is not common in European homes. Governments issued health warnings and adaptation techniques. Some people resorted to painting over glass windows with white chalk paint that allows light in, but blocks the sun’s rays. Other households taped emergency metallic blankets to block out the sun. These were blankets used for hypothermia in winter. In Paris, residents jumped into any body of water, including canals and rivers, to cool off. There have been reports of drowning. Other cities sprayed water mist in public spaces to provide moisture. Alcohol consumption in public spaces was regulated, as it caused further dehydration.
For many Filipinos, Europe's struggle feels strangely common. Our highest recorded temperature in 2026 is 37.9 C in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Though 37.9 degrees is not quite a heat wave, the temperature feels hotter because of humidity. In the Philippines, there is a greater awareness by the public and media about the heat index, which measures what temperature “feels like” when humidity and air temperature interact. It is the heat index that brings health risks to people, animals, and wildlife. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has a published heat index chart with corresponding warnings: 27 to 32 C - “Caution;” 33 to 41 C - “Extreme Caution;” 42 to 51 C - “Danger;” and over 52 C – “Extreme Danger.” Our local government units and schools, as well as national, regional, and local disaster risk reduction (DRR) offices, are responsive to the heat index warning and the health risks they pose — or they should be. The highest heat index reading recorded in the Philippines so far in 2026 is 52 C in Borongan, Eastern Samar on May 30. We cannot imagine the catastrophic impact of 52 C in Europe.
Extreme heat is an increasingly common feature of life in the Philippines. The upside is, we have developed a level of resilience, though these temperature shocks in record-high heat index pose not only severe health risks, but also productivity risks. Part of the Philippines’ heat health action plan includes the automatic suspension of classes once record high heat indexes are published. School cancellations and work adjustments ultimately affect our economy and productivity. The impact of prolonged heat waves, El Niño, and extreme heat also affect our farmers and agricultural productivity. Our urban areas, especially in Metro Manila, also feel hotter because the concrete-built environment and the lack of greenery create an urban heat island effect. While Europe is experiencing this heat-induced emergency this summer, our country has been regularly facing typhoons, floods, droughts, and rising sea levels. Extreme heat is one of the many realities that come with the Philippines’ front row seat to the effects of climate change.
The climate change conversation has once again been brought to the forefront. We are seeing repeated stories on the need to transition to renewable energy to reduce and eliminate the effects of fossil fuels on rising global temperatures. Not all is well or automatic in energy transition. The United Kingdom had to import additional energy from Europe in the form of burning gas because, ironically, their solar farms have become inefficient as temperatures rose. We must remember that the Philippines contributes less than 1 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, and yet the Philippines consistently ranks top as a nation most vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
All nations, when under extreme heat, experience negative health impacts on their vulnerable populations — the aging, the sick, and the disabled, and also workers like farmers, construction workers, and delivery riders who are exposed directly to the sun. But not all nations are able to respond or intervene with the same resources. Europe has financial resources, advanced infrastructure, and the institutional capacity to respond to the heat waves. In a few more seasons, their architecture and cities will adapt and make space for air conditioners. But many developing countries, including the Philippines, face the same threats with far fewer means, plus the additional burden on our food systems, water supply, wildlife, and productivity. Reduced agricultural yields translate into even higher food prices. Lower labor productivity affects our economic growth. School cancellations put more negative pressure on our already suffering educational systems. Increased electricity demand because of air conditioning strains power systems, raising costs for households already struggling with inflation.
This "heat divide" continues to widen the gap between nations that can better adapt to climate extremes and those that remain dangerously vulnerable despite contributing far less to the problem. Extreme heat is not simply about discomfort. It threatens our health, economy, and security. And while the climate conversation continues to be in the front pages, it is a reminder that developed countries carry a greater responsibility to reduce emissions and support vulnerable nations.
