India, July 1 -- In the wake of the heat wave, critics say the government needs to do more to adapt to climate change. This last weekend saw recording-breaking temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (just over 107 degrees Fahrenheit), with limited opportunities to cool down at night and water shortages. These are life-threatening situations for retirement and nursing homes and hospitals with little or no air conditioning.

One reason for this is that Germany doesn't have any national heat protection regulations that would require cooling systems in such facilities. Infrastructure was also affected, with trains and trams unable to function and the asphalt on many roads cracking.

Experts have been issuing warnings for a long time. Speak...