Severe summer heat waves fueled by climate change are straining infrastructure, shutting down schools, and causing hundreds of deaths across Europe and South Asia as temperatures exceed 45 degrees Celsius.
An estimated 94 million people in Europe have faced temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, including a record-breaking June temperature of 36.1 degrees Celsius in southern England.
The extreme heat has resulted in over 250 direct and indirect deaths in the region over one week, while a separate heat dome in western and central Europe claimed at least 13 lives.
Lack of Air Conditioning Worsens Crisis
The lack of air conditioning across Europe has intensified the crisis, with only 6 percent of German households utilizing cooling systems.
According to data from the European Environment Agency and the think-tank Ember Energy, heavy reliance on air conditioning can exacerbate the urban heat island effect by transferring indoor heat to dense outdoor city spaces.
In Berlin, residents faced temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, prompting business closures, train cancellations, and multiple drownings in local rivers.
Severine Le Beuzit, a 54-year-old resident of Berlin, expressed her exhaustion with ongoing tropical nights.
"No, I'm not sleeping well, but I don't think I'm the only one," said Le Beuzit. She described the persistent lack of nighttime relief as unbearable.
Power Grids Under Pressure
The extreme weather has disrupted European power supplies, lowering wind speeds for turbines and reducing cooling water available for French nuclear plants, driving up wholesale electricity prices.
In some instances, high heat and humidity knocked medical MRI scanners completely offline.
Stéphanie Rist, France’s minister of health, confirmed that emergency medical service calls have increased by 30 percent due to the soaring temperatures.
"We know that every heat wave leads to excess mortality. We also know that preventive measures can prevent deaths," said Rist.
Climate risk expert Hans-Martin Füssel from the European Environment Agency noted that implementing urban cooling solutions remains a complex challenge for local authorities.
"It's not rocket science to come up with solutions, but of course, the implementation can be difficult," said Füssel.
Füssel pointed out that structural modifications are particularly difficult for renters and historical properties.
"Air conditioning can be a solution if it's done in the right way," said Füssel.
He warned that those who need cooling the most often lack the authority to install it.
Clair Barnes, a research associate at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, explained that current European temperatures are two to four degrees higher than they would be without human-caused warming.
"What's happening under climate change is that many of these extreme events are becoming intensified," said Barnes.
Similar climate vulnerabilities are emerging in New Zealand, where new research indicates that future peak summer temperatures could cause thousands of heat-related deaths annually by 2100.
Computer modeling for Auckland and Christchurch shows that summer electricity demand will eventually overtake winter demand, costing providers and consumers an average of NZ$640,000 for each excess life saved via heat pump cooling systems.
