HEAT is becoming a defining feature of life in many parts of the world. It influences how cities are built, how much electricity they consume, when people can work outdoors and, increasingly, how governments prepare for emergencies. The latest warning from the World Meteorological Organisation suggests that these pressures are likely to intensify. Global temperatures are expected to remain at or near record levels over the next five years, with a strong possibility that the world will experience its hottest year on record before the decade is out. Scientists estimate that average temperatures between 2026 and 2030 will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Although this does not mean the Paris Agreement target has been permanently breached, it........

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