Hosts: Zongnan & Aiwei

Producer: Liu Chang

Guest Voice: Julien Nicolas, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts / Copernicus Climate Change Service

Interview Reported by: Ma Zhiyi, Zhang Zhaoqing & Ding Yinghua

Episode Summary:

As heatwaves hit harder and earlier than ever -- we ask: where is it still livable?

🧭 Timeline & Highlights:

• • 00:00 | Opening Catch-up

Zongnan sweats through Beijing’s sticky summer while Aiwei returns from a cooler Canada.

• • 00:56 | News Brief: It’s Not Just Hot—It’s Historic

2025 could become the hottest year ever. Europe just saw its third-hottest June. In Phoenix, it’s hot enough to fry eggs on sidewalks. But this isn’t just heat—it’s climate change.

• • 2:21 | Why the Heat Came Early

Julien Nicolas explains Europe’s double heatwaves and the role of Mediterranean sea temperatures and high-pressure “heat domes.”

• • 3:23 | Big Picture: Climate Change Is Here

We’ve already crossed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming target. Julien explains how long-term climate trends are driving extreme events.

• • 5:06 | The Air Conditioning Dilemma

ACs are lifesavers—but also carbon emitters. Europe’s low AC adoption comes down to cost, culture, and design. But can that last?

• • 7:36 | Weather-Only Livable Cities

If we judged cities by climate alone, Santa Barbara and Kunming might top the list. Harbin also gets an honorable mention—for being a rare cool spot in China’s record heat.

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