'Thermal safety: Not just climate in action; it's biology & physiological capacity to cope & recover

France 24 spoke with Ronita Bardhan, a professor of sustainable built environment and health at the University of Cambridge, about extreme heat. She argues that heat is no longer just a climate exposure issue but a matter of thermal safety, public health, energy security, urban design, and inequality. In an emergency, she says, protecting life comes first — people need immediate access to cooling through shade, hydration, cooling centers, passive design, or air conditioning. The real challenge, she adds, is not choosing between adaptation and mitigation but pursuing both at once.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton