Washington [US], July 4: A severe heatwave is threatening parts of Europe, leaving millions struggling to adapt to record temperatures and with little air conditioning.
As climate change brings dangerous heat waves, some people question why wealthy European countries don't install more air conditioning, according to CNN.
Reasons for less air conditioning
The heat has arrived early in many parts of Europe and the sweltering feeling continues into the night. The continent's citizens are mostly left to endure the heat, or to find relief with fans, cold packs, or cold showers. As for air conditioning, it is a rarity in Europe. Its penetration rate is only around 20% in Europe, and even lower in some countries. In the UK, only about 5% of homes are air-conditioned, with the majority being portable units that can be moved between rooms. In Germany, the figure is 3%.
The reason many European countries rarely need air conditioning is because temperatures are usually mild in the summer. This means that air conditioning has historically been seen as a luxury rather than a necessity, especially since it can be expensive to install and operate.
The next reason is architectural. Many buildings in Europe were built before air conditioning became widely available. In the UK, one in six homes was built before 1900. European policymakers are also concerned that increased air conditioning use will increase energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, undermining the EU's commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050.
The deadly heat
Meanwhile, Europe continues to experience a heat wave that is too much for many people to bear, according to the BBC. With temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, at least 6 people have died and hundreds have been hospitalized in the past few days. Spain, France, Italy and Greece are dealing with a double disaster: extreme heat and widespread wildfires .
AFP reported that two farmers died in a forest fire near the town of Cosco in Catalonia (Spain). Authorities said a farmer called the farm owner for help, but both were unable to escape the sea of fire as the fire spread. In Italy, two people died on the coast of the island of Sardinia, and an elderly man died of heart failure after being hospitalized in Genoa because he felt unwell. In France, a 10-year-old American girl collapsed and died while visiting the Palace of Versailles in southwest Paris at 6 p.m. on July 1 (local time), TF1 reported.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
