A group of experts in London gathered to discuss how to confront extreme heat. The plan failed for a reason no one could ignore: extreme heat.
On June 24, 2026, the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics had everything ready for its talk “Extreme heat: improving governance and strengthening action around the world”. The Met Office, the United Kingdom’s meteorological office, issued a red alert: up to 40°C in the shade. The building chosen for the event had no air conditioning. Not even the virtual option was spared, because the hybrid format was not designed to work only on screen.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres was in the same city saying that “London is boiling”. France, Spain, and Italy had been enduring days of similar heat, and in France 40 people drowned in three days while trying to cool off. The organizers have already promised to reschedule it, although you and I know the weather does not always respect the agenda 🌡️