'Living in a warming world requires practical solutions that save lives, don't harm our environment'

As Europe grapples with intensifying heatwaves, the conversation around climate change is shifting from abstract environmental policy to immediate public health concerns. According to Caradee Wright, Chief Specialist Scientist at South Africa's Medical Research Council, schools have become one of the clearest frontlines of this crisis. Rather than treating extreme heat as a temporary disruption, Wright argues it's a defining condition of coming decades that demands structural change. Children face unique physiological vulnerabilities, she notes, questioning whether historic school buildings remain suitable for a warming climate. Her vision extends beyond simply installing air conditioning—it calls for redesigning physical spaces and institutional routines through a combination of architectural improvements, behavioral adaptation, public awareness campaigns, and educational policy reforms. The message: protecting education in a hotter world requires rethinking schools from the ground up.

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