What can be done to prevent more dangerous heatwaves in Europe?

Does Europe need to plant more trees in it’s cities?

It appears that Europe does many things right for sustainability and climate change - public transit over cars, recycling, reducing carbon footprint better compared to other parts of the world. Of course all communities can do better at reducing their carbon footprint - Is this America’s fault with their carbon footprint that Europe is suffering? America has their cars, and simply cranks up their Air conditioners when it’s hot.

What else is there to do? I thought China had success improving their renewable energy output, even though they are still polluters, is it the actions of China and the USA causing misery in Europe? How do we help Europeans suffering and prevent this from happening again?

  • bassad@jlai.lu
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    16 hours ago

    So we will just run for cover from ac spaces to other ac spaces like americans? No thanks.

    AC just displace the issue, you will be good in your ACed appartment but the neighbor who face the exhaust will be blasted with hotter air.

    At a building scale it creates “hot air islands”, at a city/datacenter scale it is +2°C at least in a large radius.

    AC should be only a part of the solution, as it adds more issues (electricity needs, pfas emissions, dangerous fluids management).

    • remon@ani.social
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      10 hours ago

      So we will just run for cover from ac spaces to other ac spaces like americans? No thanks.

      Well, your other options are enduring the heat or move to somewhere cooler.

      • bassad@jlai.lu
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        15 hours ago

        Sure, and maternities and schools.

        This is a part of the solution, like a bandage, but it should not be the whole plan.

        I know nothing but according to some scientists the most efficient cooling system is forests and humid zones.

        That’s why we are planting trees in cities instead of parking lots and in schools courts. It’s a good start but we need moooore