Europe should look to Africa for heatwave solutions

What the report says

Al Jazeera published an opinion article by Wole Hammond and Ellen Davies on July 18, 2026, arguing that Europe should draw more practical lessons from African communities as heatwaves become a recurring threat. The authors say countries including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and parts of the Balkans are seeing extreme heat strain hospitals, transport and public spaces, while many African communities have long dealt with high temperatures, unreliable rainfall, drought, water stress and limited infrastructure.

The article points to several examples it says could inform European adaptation efforts. In architecture, it cites West African climate-conscious design associated with architects such as Francis Kere, including reflective roofs, thick locally made walls and passive ventilation that can reduce dependence on air conditioning. It also highlights Freetown, Sierra Leone’s “Freetown the Tree Town” initiative, a carbon-credit-funded urban tree-planting programme aimed at reducing city heat.

On public health, the authors cite African community-based approaches that use local health centres and public officers to reach people most exposed to heat. They specifically mention Burkina Faso’s national heatwave alert system, which they say pairs warnings with advice on hydration, reduced exposure during peak heat and checks on vulnerable residents.

The piece stresses that these ideas cannot simply be copied from one place to another, because geography, building rules, governance and culture differ. Its broader argument is that climate adaptation should be treated as innovation rather than charity, and that cooperation between Europe and Africa should include European institutions learning from African cities, planners, health workers and community organisations.