Climate change is pushing cities towards increasingly extreme temperatures, while humanity's ability to adapt has its limits.

The warning comes from Italian geologist and researcher Mario Tozzi, who emphasizes that technology can help cope with the heat, but cannot replace measures to curb global warming.

According to Tozzi, humans are not among the species with the greatest ability to adapt biologically. Throughout history, survival has relied largely on technology, but this solution has often brought consequences for the environment.

An example is the massive use of air conditioners. They lower the temperature inside buildings, but at the same time release heat into the outdoor environment, contributing to the increase in urban temperatures. In contrast, trees and green spaces help absorb heat and create cooler microclimates.

For Tozzi, one of the main answers must be to transform cities. More trees, green spaces, permeable surfaces and less concrete can help mitigate the effect of heat waves.

He cites as examples initiatives undertaken in Paris, where forest-like areas have been created in urban spaces, as well as Medellín, Colombia. There, around 200 trees have been planted and dozens of green corridors have been created connecting different areas of the city.

According to the Italian researcher, it is not enough to place a few trees or isolated green spaces. Cities need to create a continuous network of greenery, which will affect the temperature and quality of life on an urban scale.

Meanwhile, libraries, shopping malls and air-conditioned public buildings can serve as “climate shelters” during days of extreme temperatures. But Tozzi considers these emergency solutions, intended primarily to protect the most vulnerable, and not as a normal way of life throughout the summer.

Even changes in the way people choose to spend their holidays are, he says, an indicator of the impact of climate change. The fact that some citizens are preferring mountainous areas instead of the coast can be seen as an adaptation to increasingly higher temperatures.

However, Tozzi warns that adaptation cannot be the only solution. If greenhouse gas emissions are not significantly reduced and coordinated international measures are not taken, global warming could reach levels that exceed societies' ability to adapt.

He also warns of the possibility that 2027 could be associated with particularly high temperatures, depending on the development of the "Super El Niño" phenomenon.

Technology and artificial intelligence, according to him, can play an important role in predicting heat waves, identifying the most exposed areas and improving warning systems.

But neither technology nor artificial intelligence can replace pollution reduction measures. According to Tozzi, the conclusion would be the same as that of the scientific community: the surest way to limit the consequences of the climate crisis is to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In this context, adapting cities, creating shade, increasing greenery, and changing infrastructure are necessary, but not sufficient if global temperatures continue to rise.

The researcher's message is clear: humanity must adapt to the changing climate, but above all, it must stop its deterioration.