A blistering heatwave that has shattered temperature records across Europe forced the cancellation of outdoor events in Germany on Wednesday, while Britain’s National Grid reported no major disruptions despite soaring demand for cooling. In Berlin, organisers called off the annual ‘Fête de la Musique’ as thermometers hit 40.3°C, the highest ever recorded in the city for June.
Emergency services treated scores of people for heatstroke, and authorities warned the elderly and those with respiratory conditions to stay indoors. Meanwhile, in London, the grid operator confirmed it had sufficient capacity to meet the spike in electricity use, partly thanks to a surge in solar generation. “We’ve been planning for this,” a spokesperson said, noting that reserve coal plants had been placed on standby but were not needed.
Yet for many working people, the heat has been a stark reminder of unequal conditions. Warehouse workers in the Midlands told our reporter of sweltering shifts without air conditioning, while a union rep for delivery drivers described “dangerous” demands to keep working through peak heat. The contrast with Germany’s shutdown highlights how the UK’s reliance on market-led adaptation leaves the most vulnerable exposed.
As climate activists point out, without stronger protections for workers and investment in infrastructure, the resilience of the grid masks a deeper fragility in the real economy.
