Europe is experiencing another summer of extreme temperatures, with this year hitting Western Europe before we even reach the peak of the summer season. From Spain to Germany, Italy and the UK, temperatures are moving to levels that until recently were considered extremely rare for June.
The phenomenon highlights a deeper reality: climate change is no longer a future threat but a daily experience for millions of Europeans. At the same time, it reveals the weaknesses of infrastructure and policies designed for a different climate.
Temperatures that break historical limits
Forecasters are forecasting In parts of Germany, Italy and the UK, the mercury is approaching 40 degrees, while in Belgium experts are warning of one of the hottest weeks on record.
The problem is not limited to the hours of the day. The so-called “tropical nights”, with temperatures above 25 degrees, make it difficult for the human body to recover from heat stress. Prolonged exposure to heat greatly increases the risks for the elderly, children and people with underlying medical conditions.
Scientists point out that the average temperature of the planet has already increased by about 1.4 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era. This means that each new heat wave occurs against a warmer climate background.
Thermal domes and anti-cyclonic systems have always existed. What has changed is the intensity of their consequences. Europe, the planet’s fastest-warming continent, is now experiencing more frequent, stronger and longer-lasting extreme heat events.
Experts warn that any additional rise in global temperatures will translate into more deaths, greater strain on health systems and increased economic losses.
Why France and Germany have so few air conditioners
One of the most striking features of the European reality is the limited use of air conditioning even in large economies such as France and Germany.
The main reason is historical and climatic. For decades these countries had mild summers and relatively few days of extreme heat. Installing an air conditioner was considered an unnecessary expense for only a few days a year.
At the same time, the building stock was designed with cold protection in mind. Strong thermal insulation, thick walls and strict urban planning rules often make it difficult to install modern cooling systems.
Energy culture also plays an important role. In many areas of Central Europe the excessive use of air conditioning is seen as an energy wasteful and environmentally burdensome practice. This perception was strengthened even more after the energy crisis of the last years.
The big differences within Europe
The penetration of air conditioners varies greatly from country to country. In Germany the percentages remain low, while in France they fluctuate at levels significantly lower than those of southern Europe.
On the contrary, in countries such as Greece and Spain, where high temperatures are a perennial feature of the climate, the air conditioner has evolved into basic household equipment. Italy presents a more complex picture, as despite the warm climate there are still cultural reservations towards the systematic use of air conditioning.
Infrastructures that cannot withstand the new era
The effects of the heat are already visible in everyday life. Schools are closed, transport is disrupted and local authorities are scrambling for emergency solutions to protect vulnerable citizens.
The biggest problem, however, is that many European cities are still designed for the winters of the 20th century rather than the summers of the 21st. Lack of shading, limited green spaces and inadequate cooling systems turn large urban centers into heat traps.
From an environmental issue to a public health crisis
The increasingly frequent heat waves are moving the discussion from the field of the environment to the field of public health. Extreme heat affects productivity, burdens hospitals, increases mortality and widens social inequalities, as the most vulnerable citizens are often those with the fewest means of protection.
The question now emerging is not whether Europe will face new heat waves. The question is whether its cities, infrastructure and governments will be able to adapt to a reality where extreme temperatures are increasingly the norm rather than the exception.
