Europe Faces Deadly Heatwave Amid Reluctance to Use Air Conditioning

Europe is currently enduring an intense heatwave that has shattered temperature records across France, Germany, and several other countries, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in the shade. This extreme weather event, lasting several days and nights, has reportedly caused at least 1,300 excess deaths across the continent, with over 200 million people affected by the severe heat in the past two weeks. The heat dome is slowly moving from the UK through France and Spain to Germany and Poland, marking one of the most extreme summer events in recent years.

In Germany, cities like Berlin experienced near-empty streets during peak heat hours, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. Public pools and lakes became overcrowded cooling spots, and emergency services were heavily engaged, transporting heat-exhausted individuals to hospitals. Older buildings trapped heat, especially in upper floors, forcing residents to urgently open skylights. Despite the heat, air conditioning remains rare in Germany and France, partly due to high energy costs and cultural perceptions linking air conditioning to health risks. Even public institutions like hospitals often lack cooling systems. Public transportation was disrupted, with tram tracks melting and trains stalling or running without air conditioning.

France faced a longer heatwave, recalling the deadly 2003 summer that caused tens of thousands of deaths. Authorities implemented emergency plans, opened urban cooling centers, and issued high-level heat warnings. Local officials checked on vulnerable elderly residents. Between June 24 and 28, France recorded approximately 1,000 excess deaths, including some drowning victims who sought relief in water bodies. Upper-floor apartments reached indoor temperatures around 35 degrees Celsius.

In Denmark, although temperatures were lower than in central Europe, historic highs above 36 degrees Celsius were recorded in Aarhus. Residents sought relief at beaches and canals, often sleeping outdoors to avoid indoor heat. The heatwave also disrupted electricity pricing patterns due to reduced nighttime wind, causing unusually high power costs. In France, nuclear reactors were temporarily shut down because river water used for cooling exceeded legal temperature limits, raising environmental concerns.

The UK saw a temperature drop on Monday, but the risk of further heatwaves this summer remains high amid global warming trends. June temperature records have already been broken, and researchers warn that the likelihood of exceptionally severe heatwaves has doubled compared to the previous decade.