The climate crisis is shutting down our cities

From snow days to heat ‘holidays’, climate change is shutting down cities as power runs out, writes David Callaway

High winds tied to hurricanes are ripping down power transmission wires and starting fires, like in Maui (San Francisco Chronicle)

In Los Angeles last Sunday, city officials warned residents to stay inside and off the roads ahead of the first tropical storm to roar through southern California in 84 years, as power went out for thousands of people.

In Italy this week, 17 cities warned residents and tourists to stay inside during the day as temperatures approached 48C. France is warning people in the southeast to stay indoors this weekend as extreme heat threatens output from two nuclear plants on the Rhone River. And Iran declared a two-day “public holiday” earlier this month to close the economy over fears electrical output wouldn’t keep up with air conditioning as the heat hits new highs.