Caixiaode | 40°C Heatwave Sweeps Europe, but Air Conditioning Penetration Rate is Only 20%

40°C high temperatures, 1,300 excess deaths, work and school suspensions, transportation disruptions — in late June, a "heat dome" pushed Europe into extreme heatwave conditions.

This article from The Paper's "Caixiaode" (Finance Knows) column explores how a severe heatwave has swept across Europe, while the continent's air conditioning penetration rate remains at only 20%. The extreme weather event has caused widespread disruption, highlighting the gap between Europe's environmental commitments and the practical need for cooling infrastructure.

(Video report: 3 minutes 34 seconds - see original article for full video content)

Original Article (Chinese):

财晓得｜40°C高温席卷欧洲，空调普及率却仅两成

40℃高温、1300例超额死亡、停工停课、交通中断——6月下旬，一场"热穹顶"把欧洲推入极端热浪之中。