Adaptation10: September 2024

“The Heat is on...” — fungi are gone!

Those of you who went mushroom foraging recently may have been taken aback by how few you found.

This isn’t just a seasonal anomaly. Our forests are under stress. Trees have been weakened by prolonged droughts, erratic weather patterns, and the cascading effects of a warming climate. The mushrooms, unable to change their biology, can only adapt by migrating to new habitats, where conditions are still favorable. It’s a poignant reminder that while we, as humans, have the ability to innovate and adapt to our changing world, much of nature can only respond by moving out. (Read More about fungi’s role in climate change).

Populations the world over are feeling the impacts of extreme heat. This is not merely about uncomfortable temperatures. Heat is a silent killer, and a relentless threat to both human health and infrastructure. Its effects are pervasive, but can be deceptively gradual. Unlike floods or storms, heat rarely causes immediate, visible destruction. Instead, it works in the background, slowly stressing urban systems, increasing electricity demand for cooling, and degrading building materials over time. Cities are particularly vulnerable due to the “urban heat island” effect, a function of how concrete and asphalt absorb and retain more heat than rural areas.

Governments and businesses around the world are starting to prioritize heat resilience as climate change progresses. Urban planners are exploring ways to design cooler cities through green spaces, reflective surfaces, and innovative building materials that reduce heat absorption. In offices and factories, companies are experimenting with flexible schedules to minimize their workers’ exposure to peak temperatures and introducing new technologies to cool industrial spaces more efficiently.

In this edition of Adaptation10, we highlight ten innovative companies that are tackling heat head-on. From advanced cooling technologies to urban planning strategies designed to mitigate the effects of heatwaves, these companies offer solutions that can help to build more resilient communities and protect the vulnerable from the growing threat of extreme heat.

Stay resilient and join us in this journey of adaptation and technology.

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Thanks for reading!

Louie Woodall & Daniel Schmitz-Remberg