Can Europe’s historic cities survive a warming climate?

Europe's historic cities are caught in a preservation paradox. According to Al Jazeera, intensifying heatwaves are forcing a choice: adapt infrastructure for survival, or maintain architectural integrity at the cost of endangering the very heritage being protected. Cities designed for cooler centuries must now decide whether retrofitting for climate — cooling systems, shade structures, heat-resistant materials — erases what made them irreplaceable. These cities anchor Europe's tourism, culture, and economy, making climate adaptation not optional. Yet every modern addition risks destroying the past those cities exist to preserve.

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