Summary of Key Points
This summer, Europe experienced rare extreme heat, with temperatures in many areas exceeding 45°C, resulting in over 1,300 excess deaths, school closures, train suspensions, and even funeral homes operating at full capacity. However, the penetration rate of air conditioning in Europe is extremely low (only 20% of households have air conditioning across the continent, and in Germany, it's just 3%). People are unable to obtain Chinese-made air conditioners and resort to makeshift methods such as using small fans, carrying winter melons for shade, jumping into rivers, or seeking cooler places at cemeteries. The reason behind this is that Europe historically has a milder climate that did not require air conditioning. Additionally, installing air conditioning involves government approval, consent from neighbors, and high costs, making the issue increasingly severe due to global warming.
1. How hot was it in Europe? Hot enough to fry eggs and overwhelm funeral homes?
This heatwave was no minor inconvenience; it was life-threatening:
- Record-breaking temperatures: Southern France reached 45°C, Spain hit 46°C, and Paris nearly reached 40°C, with the ground being so hot that it could actually fry an egg (as proven by online photos).
- Casualties: Since June 21st, over 1,300 people have died due to the heat, and two funeral homes in Paris have been overwhelmed by the demand.
- Life on hold: More than 1,300 schools were closed, the top of the Eiffel Tower was shut down, intercity trains stopped running, and companies urged employees to work from home. However, netizens complained, "If neither the company nor my home has air conditioning, is this a benefit or a disadvantage?"
- Shortage of cooling resources: Paris opened 1,400 cooling centers, and even the shade under trees at cemeteries became highly sought-after places to escape the heat. Some joked, "We're digging for underground resources to cool down!"
2. Why is installing air conditioning harder than getting a green card? The air conditioning dilemma in Europe
It's not that Europeans don't want air conditioning; they simply can't afford it or can't install it:
- Historical habits: In the past, the North Atlantic Current kept Europe warm in winter and cool in summer, so days with temperatures over 30°C were rare. Air conditioning was considered optional.
- Strict building regulations: Installing air conditioning requires government approval (in France) or a construction permit (in Switzerland), as well as consent from all neighbors. Holes in the walls can damage the structure, and the noise from outdoor units may be illegal. If neighbors disagree, the installation must be removed, with additional costs.
- Exorbitant costs: A basic Midea air conditioner costs 600 euros in Europe, but installation fees often exceed 1,000 euros, which is too much for most families to bear.
- Renting difficulties: Landlords forbid the installation of outdoor units (as reported by netizens in Germany and France). In Austria, tenants even need their landlord's permission to install air conditioning on balconies.
3. Creative solutions to the lack of air conditioning
Without access to air conditioners, Europeans have had to get creative:
- Bidding for Chinese cooling gadgets: Air conditioners sold out within hours at Parisian appliance stores, and sales of Chinese fans and ice makers soared on cross-border platforms.
- Traditional cooling methods: Chinese netizens advised overseas Chinese residents to carry winter melons („Take advantage while foreigners haven’t learned about this; hurry to the supermarket!“).
- Outdoor alternatives: Seeking shade under trees at cemeteries, soaking feet in fountains, or taking baths in rivers (with some even jumping into rivers for relief, similar to the crowded conditions on Indian trains). However, these methods are dangerous, with a sharp increase in drowning deaths in France, especially in areas where swimming is prohibited.
- Ineffective sun protection: Europeans finally started using umbrellas, but they're rain umbrellas that provide little shade, leading to jokes about their "sun protection" being as effective as running naked.
4. Europe must adapt to a warmer climate
Climate change means Europe needs to rethink how it spends its summers:
- Changes in Qingdao: Once a popular summer retreat, Qingdao now frequently experiences temperatures over 30°C. Universities have only recently started installing air conditioning in dormitories, indicating that even places traditionally not relying on air conditioning are being affected by climate change.
- Europe's future: Another heatwave is expected on July 6th, with temperatures in London and Paris expected to exceed 40°C again. Europeans must either change their building regulations or accept that air conditioning will become a necessity. Otherwise, they'll continue to resort to extreme measures to cope with the heat.
In conclusion
The air conditioning crisis in Europe is a result of the clash between old lifestyles and climate change. The comfortable climate of the past no longer exists, and traditional rules prevent the installation of air conditioners, leaving people to struggle through the heat. But climate change won't wait for Europeans to adapt; they need to learn to live with hotter summers.