Financial TimesFinancial Times

How an era of extreme heat is reshaping economies

By Camilla Hodgson, Attracta Mooney, Aime Williams and Ian Smith

21 Jul 2023 · 8 min read

The Acropolis has stood above the city of Athens for centuries, its ancient walls and pillars withstanding war, siege and conquest. But as temperatures crested 40C across southern Europe this month, Greece’s top tourist attraction briefly fell victim to extreme heat.

Officials shut the site for several hours during the hottest parts of the day, after holidaymakers queueing to enter required medical attention.

Sign in to informed

  • Curated articles from premium publishers, ad-free
  • Concise Daily Briefs with quick-read summaries
  • Read, listen, save for later, or enjoy offline
  • Enjoy personalized content
Or

LoginForm.agreeToTerms