Buildings ‘not built for the heat’: Why cities are failing in a heatwave

Stéphane Kirkland, an expert on urban design, warns that many buildings and neighborhoods are not equipped to handle record-breaking temperatures. Speaking on France 24’s The Debate, he outlined the major challenges in adapting infrastructure for a hotter future. The key problem, he says, is that most existing structures were designed for a cooler climate, leaving residents vulnerable during extreme heat events. Without urgent retrofits and smarter urban planning, cities will struggle to protect their populations from the worsening effects of climate change.