EuropeSummer came early this year as ’ was overwhelmed by record-breaking temperatures.
In May, mercury peaked at 37°C for the first time in ’, France, while in London, England, it broke the monthly record with temperatures reaching 34.8°C’. The same goes for Ireland with an unprecedented temperature. It's 30.5°C.
However, according to the European Environment Agency ’'s report titled “Overheated and Underprepared, the majority of EU citizens, that is, 68%, have no air conditioning (air conditioning) or ventilator system in their homes.
Which countries struggle the most to afford air conditioning?
Although some countries do not need it (Europe is not equally hot everywhere) more than one in three people () says they can't afford to buy air conditioning.
In some of the hottest regions of the continent, the numbers are particularly high: France in ’ , Greece’da , Portugal’de and Spain’da (), Italy’da () and Romania’da () more than a third.
It is a worrying picture given that more than one in four EU citizens are over 65 years old and some of the oldest populations are concentrated in countries such as Italy, Portugal or Greece.
It is also Malta (%8.5) and Luxembourg () and Ireland () emerged as the countries with the least problems with air conditioning or fan systems.
Of course, there are other ways to keep homes cool, such as shutters, awnings, or exterior shading.
Spain (although, from Portugal () from Italy () or Cyprus’ta () The majority of people say that their homes do not even have these characteristics.
Warm weather is more worrying than other climate issues
That doesn't mean people aren't worried about high temperatures.
Heat, for EU citizens () is the number one concern about climate; The Flood (), fires (.5) or water shortage (.5) is more.
Concerns are particularly high in the Mediterranean’: the Cyprus ’ , Greece’da and Malta’da %From extremely high temperatures of 70, “much ” or “much ” says they are concerned.
In addition, about half of AB’'s respondents are already at home (%Fifty, that's it.) and %More than 60’ in their own neighborhood () It feels very hot.
There is no air conditioning: Italians and Germans face post office queue hell in summer
Local communities report mixed heat responses from local authorities, and it seems quite rare to come across any public building equipped with “ or air conditioning to ” refrigeration centers in general.
Italians in particular seem doomed to melt; only for the ’i reports using air conditioning in public buildings; In Germany, this figure is even lower in ’, %7. Greece, Malta and RomaniaIn ’, this rate is much higher; About the citizens ’i benefit from refrigerated public spaces.
Greeks love air conditioning but stay away from trees when arranging Cyprus work schedules
Planting trees seems to be a cheaper, more coherent and environmentally friendly option, and the EU residents ’si says they have seen this applied in their circles.
However, the proportions of tree plantings reported in ’ in Hungary ’dan Greece’da only %Since it varies up to 22’ye (third lowest rate across the EU), purchase rates vary widely.
Another reaction on the hottest days may be to adjust work or school schedules.
However, only EU citizens ’i complied with these measures; Replies Cyprus’ta ’ to Portugal’ only %It varies up to 8’e.
the Participants ' %Local authorities seem more active when it comes to heatwave alerts, such as phone calls, text messages or communication through the media reported by 57’si.
At the same time, this type of communication seems to be related to emergency response rather than prevention; There are fewer citizens (.5) reported exposure to awareness campaigns about extreme weather health risks and recommended actions.
