Heatwave in Europe: have the politicians failed?
Several European countries are recording the hottest temperatures for June in decades – and in some cases the hottest since records began. Many regions are on the highest level of heat alert. Jim Skea, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said that we would see more of what we've been seeing over the past few days. The press discusses responsibilities and solutions.
Rebel against inaction
Where is the outcry in the face of climate injustice? asks L'Humanité:
“The government knows full well that its inaction will lead to even more tragedies and deaths. Its decision is criminal – just as criminal as prioritising the economic interests of a minority at the expense of the planet's limits and the majority of humanity. ... Now that the country is suffocating, everyone seems to be waking up to the glaring stupidity of climate sceptics. But where is the outrage? There is a serious risk that, once summer is over, the issue will be sidelined by the obsessions of the media outlets controlled by [far-right media mogul] Bolloré. Particularly at a time when the left is being mocked and dismissed as too weak, the anti-capitalist forces are the only ones capable of waging this existential battle.”
Opting out on climate action is criminal
The candidates in the French presidential election in spring 2027 must not ignore climate action, warns L'Obs:
“Of course, nothing is straightforward when it comes to climate change. Combating it while at the same time adapting to it involves difficult trade-offs, changes to our lifestyles and seeking a fair distribution of the burden. But looking the other way is no longer an option. ... We must bear this in mind in the coming year, especially when the weather seems more pleasant. And any candidates in the 2027 presidential election who resort to fatalism or refuse to make climate action a cornerstone of their manifestos will be exposed for what they are: criminal accomplices to an inevitable defeat.”
Debates can't override the laws of physics
This is the new normal, writes evolutionary biologist Telmo Pievani in Corriere della Sera:
“A stifling and persistent heatwave is making our lives more difficult. ... Droughts and scorching heat are counterbalanced by violent thunderstorms and devastating hailstorms. ... Should we regard all this as an unexpected emergency, an inevitable disaster, a one-off event? ... Unfortunately not. What is happening right now is the new normal, which we will have to live with in every season for the coming decades. ... We are in the midst of a major process of change, one to which we have contributed and which has now gained a momentum of its own that we cannot stop. The laws of physics are indifferent to our discussions.”
Measures to adapt to even hotter summers needed
More will have to be done to adapt to the effects of climate change, Iltalehti stresses:
“European climate policy has focued so far mainly on reducing emissions. Measures to adapt to a climate that has already changed may have been somewhat neglected. This gap is now being rapidly addressed. As an example, Finland's Building Act which came into force last year promotes low-carbon construction and also stipulates measures to reduce summer heat stress and the risk of flooding. ... Major infrastructure investments are often planned over a period of decades or even a century. New railway lines, power stations and city districts will be built in a Europe that is set to become even hotter. Decisionmakers must take a long-term perspective.”
Air conditioning is not the solution
Volkskrant columnist Jarl van der Ploeg stresses that air conditioning units are not a cure-all:
“Let's not pretend that these things offer a way out of the systemic crisis of which this heat is just a symptom. The fact is there are plenty of other solutions. ... Plant twice as many trees, build more drinking fountains, expel anyone with a paved-over garden from the country, give any photo editor who pairs news articles about the extreme heat with photos of people swimming and enjoying themselves a good dressing-down, and never, ever vote for climate deniers.”
Long- and short-term measures needed
El País insists:
“In the long term, phasing out fossil fuels will be crucial. ... Governments must resist pressure from the oil industry and the Gulf monarchies, whose blatant economic interests are compounded by a complete disregard for climate protection. ... Artificial intelligence has such a thirst for energy and water that it is working against the course of history. ... Governments and consumers must put pressure on these huge companies to switch to clean energy. ... In the short term, governments must work to mitigate the effects of global warming, which will continue to worsen for decades even if CO2 emissions were to stop immediately.”
Suffering even worse in Asia and Africa
Austria, too, is bracing for a heatwave this weekend, but Kurier points out that other regions are far worse off:
“Unfortunately, we must also grasp that what Austria is currently experiencing is merely average on a global scale. Parts of Pakistan, India and West Africa are facing temperatures which, combined with high humidity, are forecast to reach levels where the human body can no longer cool itself through sweating – the life-threatening wet-bulb threshold. What is the exception now will become the norm for hundreds of millions by the middle of the century. Perhaps our sympathy for the world's poorest people – who did not cause the climate crisis, but are suffering the most from it – will also gradually grow.”
Both a must: ACs and trees
Cities must be better equipped to cope with the consequences of climate change, De Standaard insists:
“Unfortunately, it's 'either/or' that usually fuels public debate. The false dichotomy that only exacerbates the polarisation during these days of extreme heat is that between trees and air conditioning. The debate is in full swing in France. The far right wants to the whole country to have air conditioning units while the far left wants to build with earth, wood and straw. ... Naturally, we need both more trees and more cooling systems to keep homes, schools and care homes liveable.”
Putting profit above survival?
Europe's elites are turning a blind eye to climate action, Mediapart rails:
“The priority of our production models is not the fight against environmental chaos, nor even against its consequences. ... If we want proof, we need only remember that at the very moment Europe is turning into an unbearable furnace the development of AI, that ecological ogre, is taking priority. A week ago, the technology lobby called on the EU to scale back its climate ambitions to prioritise AI development. For months now, Western governments have been rolling back the already watered-down environmental protection regulations that had been introduced, all for the sake of boosting profit. The structural crisis of capitalism is pushing the environmental disaster into the background.”
What about prevention?
Before the heatwave hits Greece, Ta Nea reflects:
“Who still remembers the estimated 2,800 people who died in Greece in 2022 of heat-related causes – a figure that left our country in second place after Italy on the European per-capita mortality ranking? The meteorologists will, of course, warn us in good time. The government will recommend restricting exercise, local authorities will open their air-conditioned facilities to those in need and cultural events will be cancelled if necessary. We are undoubtedly better prepared than we used to be when it comes to dealing with such extreme situations. But is all the focus on crisis management not distracting from the need for prevention?”
Stop overreacting and enjoy the sunshine
The Daily Telegraph is annoyed by the overreactions to the heat:
“There is nothing healthy about descending into fits of hysterics every time the mercury slides past 30. Health messages range from the patronising – Tube announcements imploring travellers to carry a bottle of water – to the preposterous, as if a healthy adult is liable to drop dead from a little bit of sun exposure. When heatwaves do arrive, it hardly seems sustainable for every school to be shut and every train to stop running, as if we can afford to recreate the Covid lockdowns. ... We ought to apply a little bit of reason and enjoy this brief bout of British summertime for the rare treat that it is.”
Adaptation instead of paralysis
The French approach to dealing with the heatwave is not a long-term solution, warns L'Opinion:
“France is responding by voluntarily imposing a sort of lockdown: schools are being closed, oral A-level exams postponed and celebrations cancelled. In short, the country is pulling the emergency brake. ... In reality, we're left with two options. The first is to complain, postpone everything and bring the country to a standstill as soon as temperatures rise above 35 degrees. The second is to recognise that these heatwaves will return with increasing frequency and intensity, and that a modern country cannot come to a standstill for several weeks each year. Adapting does not mean giving up the fight against climate change. It is its logical consequence.”
Lakes in dire straits
The lakes that are drying out in Hungary should serve as a wake-up call, Népszava admonishes:
“In the climate crisis, our shallow lakes are seen as the weakest link in the chain. ... Yet they are a sign of the problems the entire ecosystem faces. The drying up of these vulnerable bodies of water is nature's cry for help – even if all we notice is that lakeside beaches are closed. ... We need a good solution, but not just for the lakes: entire ecosystems need immediate aid. Replenishment sounds good, but it's not enough: we need water storage, the revitalisation and interconnection of water systems and – above all – the realisation that it is not just our lakes that are in trouble.”
Finland becoming a paradise
Climate change is making life in the north more attractive, notes Helsingin Sanomat:
“In many parts of Europe, water is starting to become scarce. Drought and heat are destroying crops. The heat is claiming lives. ... In such a world, Finland is becoming a paradise in terms of the weather. There has already been talk of a growing trend of 'coolcation tourism', but this phenomenon could also have an impact on people's choice of permanent residence. On holiday, you can escape the heat by getting into the water, but in everyday life you need to be able to spend time outdoors and get enough sleep. And although getting through the long, dark winter in the north requires resilience, it could soon seem like child's play compared to months of relentless heat.”