Europe’s summer emergency was a dire warning for Australia. What can be learned before it’s too late? | Nick Rowley

Between 2000 and 2018, extreme heat caused more deaths in Australia than all our bushfires, floods, storms and cyclones combined Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Back in April 2004, in the shadow of the previous European summer, I started work at Downing Street advising the British prime minister on climate change.

The 2003 heatwave had killed an estimated 70,000 people across Europe.

Many were older people, in homes and neighbourhoods ill-equipped for prolonged heat.

In May this year, I walked through Bordeaux with my 83-year-old mother-in-law in 38C heat.

I saw how quickly heat changes the terms of ordinary life.

Streets emptied.

Shade became essential.

The question was not simply the temperature, but whether people could work, sleep or remain safely at home.

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