Heat waves are increasing and getting hotter - also in Europe. Heat stress is particularly high in cities. But how hot will it actually be in the future? And how can we protect ourselves from such temperatures?

One temperature record follows the next. Heat waves are becoming more frequent, longer and more intense in Europe too. Cities often turn into so-called heat islands, where temperatures can be up to 10 degrees Celsius higher than in the surrounding area. Paris is a frightening example: during heat waves, the mortality rate there is higher than in any other European city. Temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius are not out of the question in the metropolis in the future. But rural areas are also struggling with the challenges of heat waves, and even the Mediterranean is warming up dangerously. While the human body has various mechanisms for cooling down, these are reaching their limits more quickly than previously thought.

So how can we protect ourselves from the heat in the future in the face of constantly rising temperatures? What adaptation strategies are there? The film visits several Western European hotspots and shows how heat waves are changing our lives. Scientists and experts from around the world present possible adaptation strategies and examine how cities, agriculture and health systems can prepare for future heatwaves.