How should Europe respond to heatwaves

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.”

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.”

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.”

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?”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”