A busy French city street during an intense heatwave, showing people fanning themselves, wiping sweat with handkerchiefs, and seeking shade.
The world is experiencing a level of heat that scientists once predicted would arrive decades from now, yet it is unfolding before our eyes. From Europe’s scorching summers to record‑breaking temperatures across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, extreme heat has become one of the most visible signs of a planet under stress.


