Reuters: London cancels a high-temperature discussion meeting due to excessively hot venue!
On June 25, during London’s Climate Action Week, a special session discussing extreme heat was canceled. The reason? Nothing other than the extreme heat itself.
The event was originally scheduled to take place in an old building at the London School of Economics. The building is nearly a century old. Like many historic structures in the UK, it lacks air conditioning. Cooling relies solely on natural ventilation and electric fans.
The meeting was organized by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Its theme was “Extreme Heat: Advancing Global Governance and Strengthening Action.” In other words, a group of people had gathered to discuss how to respond to heat—only for the heat itself to knock them out before they could even begin.
The organizers posted a notice on social media. They explained that the venue had no cooling equipment. It would be unacceptable to subject speakers and attendees to unbearable indoor temperatures, especially since everyone had already endured high heat while traveling to the venue. Thus, the decision was made to cancel the event.
The UK Met Office issued a red-level extreme heat warning—the second such alert in the country’s history. The warning ran from 9 a.m. on June 24 through 9 p.m. on June 25, covering large parts of London and southern central England.
The temperatures were truly alarming. On June 24, the UK recorded 36.1°C. On June 25, it hit 36.7°C. Then on June 26, it soared to 37.3°C—three consecutive days setting new records for the highest June temperatures ever in the UK. Some roads in London reached surface temperatures as high as 57°C.
Left-wing groups across Europe argue that air conditioning is an "energy-intensive product," and its widespread use increases carbon emissions. They emphasize combating climate change, warning that using more air conditioning only worsens global warming. The heat expelled by AC units makes urban neighborhoods even hotter, creating a vicious cycle: “the hotter it gets, the more you turn on the AC; the more you turn it on, the hotter it gets.”
In countries like France, the issue of air conditioning has evolved into a cultural “war of values.” The left has elevated resistance to air conditioning into a lifestyle choice opposing excessive consumption and embracing nature. In France, using air conditioning has long been seen as “inauthentic” or “lacking elegance.” Leftists criticize right-wing solutions as superficial fixes, arguing that true equity lies in ensuring everyone lives in well-insulated, tree-shaded buildings.
The irony couldn’t be stronger. Helen Clarkson, CEO of a climate organization, remarked that the heatwave had made “science become reality.” An event meant to discuss extreme heat was ultimately canceled by extreme heat itself.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869196683936768/
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