For generations, countries of northern and western Europe were seen as places where summer meant pleasant sunshine rather than a struggle for survival. India, by contrast, has long lived with the annual ordeal of extreme heat. That distinction is beginning to blur. As parts of France, Spain and the United Kingdom record temperatures that rival or exceed those routinely associated with the tropics, the world is witnessing more than another difficult summer.

It is watching climate geography being rewritten. The significance lies not simply in the numbers on the thermometer but in the societies confronting them. India has evolved, however imperfectly, with an understanding that summer can be dangerous. Air-conditioning remains inaccessible to millions, but the country has increasingly adopted heat action plans, revised work schedules, early warning systems and public awareness campaigns after repeated deadly heatwaves. European societies, whose infrastructure, housing, public transport and even tourism were designed for milder climates, are discovering that prosperity does not automatically translate into climate resilience. The economic implications are........

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