A Guardian Opinion video, presented by deputy opinion editor Kirsty Major, examines why UK and European cities are struggling to cope with extreme heat as the climate crisis intensifies. It highlights the scale of the problem through the lens of urban playgrounds, which can become dangerously hot, and questions whether authorities are doing enough to adapt infrastructure to increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves.

The piece cites Greenpeace measurements of surface temperatures reaching as high as 53C at one London playground during recent heatwaves. It also warns that a forecast "Super El Niño" could push temperatures even higher next year, and follows Major as she investigates examples of playgrounds being redesigned or adapted to better withstand the new climate reality.