We aren't built for this heat

Most people assume caring about climate change makes them the odd one out. But that isn't true! And by keeping silent, we perpetuate that myth.

☀️ Good news: Inspired by the 89 Percent Project, 136 Japanese news outlets are teaming up to show people that the vast majority of the country wants stronger climate action.

🌡️ Not-so-good news: Recent heatwaves have buckled US highways, burst the concrete on part of Germany's Autobahn, and melted the asphalt around Leipzig's tram tracks - real life examples of how our infrastructure was built for yesterday's climate, not today's.

🏠 What you can do: As temperatures soar and wildfire smoke chokes the air, consider climate-proofing your home for a warming world.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate. 

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to Talking Climate with Catherine Hayho. Each episode, we explore how climate change is affecting the people, places, and things we love, and what we can do to make a difference. From science to solutions and stories that inspire, you're in the right place for real talk about real change. A few weeks ago, I highlighted the renewables boom around the world, including the fact that in the U.S., solar now generates more electricity than coal. Yet that same month, in addition to buying back wind leases from multiple companies, the U.S. administration also announced $700 million in funding for investments in the coal industry. As Lena Moffat of Evergreen Action says, spending $700 million to bail out the coal industry is like throwing a lifeline to a ship that has already sunk. And I agree. Or I'd say it's like using taxpayer cash to build more party-line telephone lines when the smartphone is already cheaper and widely available. It just doesn't make sense from an economic and technological sense, let alone a climate one. This week, we're talking about Japan's media speaking up on climate, failing infrastructure, and heat-proofing your home. Let's dive in. Good news. People often assume that talking about climate change is controversial, but research keeps finding the opposite. Most people support climate action. They just don't realize most other people do too. A landmark study in 2024 found that across 125 countries, people consistently underestimated how much their fellow citizens cared. Why? Because hardly anyone is talking about it. And if you don't talk about it, how would anyone know that you cared? Your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues are not mind readers. That's why it's such great news that Japan's news media is helping close that gap. Inspired by Covering Climate Now's 89% project, which in turn was inspired by the 2024 study I mentioned, 136 news organizations across Japan are working together to remind people that 89% of Japanese people support stronger climate action. Through TV announcements and daily social media posts, the campaign is running through the end of the year, encouraging more people to start talking about climate change. Japan is the world's fourth largest economy and fifth largest emitter, and it's already feeling the heat. 2025 marked the hottest summer in the country's recorded history, and climate change has measurably impacted everything, from its matcha to rice harvests, as I've talked about before. Yet, like many world leaders, Japan's government has been slow to act boldly on climate. This invisible majority problem doesn't just keep individuals quiet. A recent study found that it misleads leaders too. When people stay silent, politicians assume that silence means indifference and act accordingly. Japan's news media is helping millions of people realize they're not having that conversation alone. As you can guess from the title of my TED Talk, that is a major win in my book. Not so good news. I've talked a lot the last few weeks about how climate change is making heat waves more frequent and more intense, and how that's affecting people's health. But it's also revealing that infrastructure built for yesterday's climate can't handle today's heat. A heat wave that scorched much of the eastern United States over the 4th of July weekend caused a stretch of the I-97 highway in Maryland to buckle. Blistering temperatures in Germany in late June led the concrete on part of the Audubon near Berlin to actually burst. In Leipzig, the asphalt around tram tracks melted, forcing the tram to be closed. As heat records keep falling, roads, railways, power plants, and electric grids are being pushed past the limits they were intended for. Engineering professor Mikhail Chester said last year, in many ways, we've designed our infrastructures over decades, if not centuries, for temperatures that have been relatively milder. Roads and bridges were built to withstand a certain level of heat, and many are now experiencing temperatures beyond what engineers planned for. That's why I spent 10 years myself contributing as a researcher to the infrastructure climate network and working with the U.S. Department of Transportation. The question isn't whether we'll pay for climate change, it's whether we'll pay before infrastructure fails or after. We must rebuild for the extremes we're already living through. But there is good news. London is already beginning that work. Its new Heat-Ready London plan offers a citywide blueprint from retrofitting vulnerable buildings to expanding shade and preparing essential services for hotter conditions. That's how we build cities ready for the climate ahead. What you can do. I've previously shared tips for staying safe outdoors during extreme heat, but recent heat waves are a reminder that staying safe increasingly means thinking about whether our homes are ready for the climate of the future, not the climate of the past. Climate Check has a comprehensive guide to make your home more resilient at all levels. Upgrades like adding insulation in your attic, under your floors, or behind your drywall can make a big difference. You can even encapsulate your crawl space if you have one, or paint the exterior of your home with elastomeric paint, as increased heat and humidity can lead to more mold and mildew. Improving your attic's ventilation is another effective option, allowing excess heat to escape rather than build up inside your home. In some cases, installing a whole house attic fan can further improve airflow and reduce the need for air conditioning. Some homeowners' warranties will cover an HVAC system assessment and repair. Holes can develop with regular wear and tear and are usually easy to patch. And yes, do consider installing air conditioning if your home is becoming unsafe during extreme heat. Carbon Brief fact-checked eight culture war myths circulating about air conditioning in Europe. For instance, it's not true that AC is broadly banned. Yes, AC can absolutely reduce heat deaths, and passive cooling with shade and urban greening can work alongside more efficient air conditioning rather than treating them as an either-or choice. I grew up without AC myself, but my parents had to install it a few years ago because summers have warmed so quickly in southern Ontario. While air conditioning uses a lot of energy, especially where I live now in Texas, our electricity plan is 100% wind, and we couldn't make it through the summer without it. For generations, we built homes to keep us warm. Increasingly, we'll need homes that can also keep us cool. If you have family and friends at risk, have this conversation with them today.ca. Until next time, keep talking climate.