Who Pays the Price?
Tragic deaths from extreme heat. Asthma sufferers struggling to breathe. Elderly people unable to leave their homes. Risks to the vulnerable.
This is our summer. It used to be something to look forward to. Now it's almost intolerable. Even my 13-year-old asks: who would wish for this kind of heat? Going on holiday in 40 degrees is like hell on earth.
Heat-related mortality for people over 65 has risen by approximately 85% in just two decades. We don’t need the stats to tell us. When the Fahrenheit rises, it's the young, the old, women, people with disabilities and those with underlying health issues who feel the heat and its effects the most. ‘Scorchio’ no longer seems funny anymore. These are the groups that travel traditionally has overlooked.
From High Noon to Cool Noon
Some destinations are ahead of the curve. The Cool Noons project across five Mediterranean cities - Lisbon, Marseille, Dubrovnik, Imola, Budva - maps shaded routes, fountains, cool spots, with the aim to build cities that work in the heat.
But how much of this initiative was driven by economic survival rather than health, well-being and inclusion? Even if it is the latter, it is a start in future-proofing destinations through adaptation and mitigation measures.
If travel wants to thrive, it might take a leaf out of Barcelona's book. Since 2020 the city has built a network of climate shelters including libraries, community centres, parks and schools. Nearly all residents now live within a 10-minute walk of a free, comfortable space to escape the heat. Designed for those most at risk: the elderly, children, people with pre-existing conditions, low-income residents. When everyone is catered for from the outset through universal design, the infrastructure works for everyone, not just for visitors.
Growing divide
We are increasingly exposed to the true costs of climate injustice through the intergenerational divide. The young and the old — those with the least agency — have the most to lose. And it is a heavy cost.
If we embrace climate adaptation including universal design, things might improve. But young people will always bear the burden of our decades of travelling that accounts for around 8% of global carbon emissions. Will they seek out the sun, or will they opt for cooler climes at more comfortable temperatures? I’m betting on the longevity of the coolcation trend, creating a new north south divide.
The industry that tends to gloss over the needs of younger generations may find that they've already made up their minds about the legacy that they’ve been left to face. With Gen Alpha and Beta most exposed to the impacts of climate change in terms of global warming, we owe it to them to start designing a future that is at once resilient, adaptive and cooler.
Winter seems so appealing now.