40 Degrees in the Shade – Europe’s Unequal Heat
In 2026, Europe experienced a summer of extremes. Yet, the consequences of this record-breaking heat are unevenly distributed. In Paris, Berlin, and Vienna, people are battling sweltering temperatures inside their own homes. A lack of sun protection and poor insulation turn their living spaces into heat traps. This report shows how people and cities are coping with the situation.
Multiple heatwaves drove temperatures to record highs in 2026. June saw Western Europe experience its hottest weather since records began. Temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius in the shade are no longer an exception.
However, the heat does not affect everyone equally. Those living in poorly insulated apartments or working outdoors are particularly vulnerable. This report follows people in Paris, Berlin, and Vienna as they live through the heat and reach their limits.
In Paris, Maïder Olivier—a climate protection officer with the *Fondation pour le Logement des Défavorisés*—campaigns for better insulation and external shutters. Lia Blanchard-Litique’s nine-square-meter maid’s room, located beneath a typical Parisian zinc roof, heats up intensely; she relies on evaporative coolers and a chalk-based coating for relief. The city rejected her request to paint the roof white, citing heritage preservation regulations.
In Berlin, Barbara Breuer travels the streets on the "Heat Bus" operated by the Berlin City Mission, distributing water and sunscreen to the homeless. In Vienna, pensioner Elisabeth Rauch visits one of the "Cool Zones" established under the city’s heat protection program; these air-conditioned spaces allow people to gather and drink water for free. Meanwhile, caregiver Anna Salnik tends to individuals who are unable to leave their homes due to illness.
How can cities adapt to a hotter future? And what must be done to ensure that a temperature of 40 degrees does not determine who survives the summer in good health and who does not?
Broadcasting on 14th of September 2026 at 07.40pm on ARTE
Music: POPVIRUS Library
