Heatwaves are now as much a part of summer as regrettable sunburns and melting ice cream, but a new study confirms what anyone without air conditioning already knows: people will go almost anywhere to escape the heat. Using mobile phone location data from seven countries - Brazil, China, France, India, Nigeria, Turkey, and the US - researchers tracked where people fled during heatwaves in 2022 and 2023.
The findings, published in Environmental Research Climate, reveal that people overwhelmingly retreat to their homes during scorching weather. But for those who lack the luxury of air conditioning, shopping malls and parks become the next best thing - sweaty oases of consumerism and greenery. The study notes that this behavior is not surprising, which is probably the most scientific way of saying "we told you so."
During a particularly brutal 10-day heatwave in the summer of 2025, Europe saw 2,300 deaths. Globally, governments are scrambling to implement heat action plans, but social inequalities mean some people are more vulnerable than others. In Mexico, for instance, adults aged 18 to 35 were disproportionately likely to die from heat, likely due to outdoor work and inflexible hours. The researchers conclude that community cooling centers and flexible working hours should be key parts of heat adaptation plans - because apparently, we need a study to tell us that letting people work in shade might save lives.