Why a 40°C Heatwave Terrifies Europe More Than It Does India

When we think of Europe, we envision a place with cold to moderate temperatures, a pleasant atmosphere, and people wearing beautiful warm sweaters and jackets to go outside. That’s why Bollywood movies were often shot in Europe, due to its pleasant and beautiful atmosphere; the air feels different.

But today, in Europe, as heat increases in Europe, people form queues outside shops to buy air conditioners – items they were hardly accustomed to needing before. In these extreme heat conditions, more than 1,300 people lost their lives. According to experts, this heat wave increased from 20th June 2026, which is considered the hottest heat wave in history. The scenes coming from several European countries have shocked the world. Roads have softened, rivers have warmed, public transport has been affected, and hospitals have witnessed an increase in heat-related illnesses.

In most places globally where 45 to 50 degrees Celsius is common, people are not as worried. But in Europe, where temperatures reached around 40 to 42 degrees Celsius, people are significantly more worried, and hundreds have lost their lives.

The question is: in India, where 40 to 50 degrees Celsius is common in summers, why are people not as worried as in Europe?

The second question is: Why do Europeans worry so much?

The answer lies in how Europe has developed over many decades. In Europe, the infrastructure is made to protect people from the cold rather than the heat. The internal heat of houses is trapped inside, protecting residents from freezing temperatures during winter. Today, with external heat, their houses become even hotter, which is a major concern. Consequently, no one wants to stay inside their houses because indoor temperatures can become uncomfortable and, in some cases, even dangerous.

Secondly, in Northern Europe, summer days are longer. During June and July, countries like Sweden, Norway, Britain, Finland, France, and Germany experience nearly 16 to 18 hours of daylight. Consequently, their infrastructure, houses, buildings, offices, and other structures continue absorbing heat throughout the day. The prolonged exposure to sunlight causes buildings to warm up significantly, and in some places, roads, railway tracks, and other infrastructure also begin to melt or suffer damage because they were originally designed for colder climates.

Now people are buying air conditioners and fans in huge numbers, forming long queues outside electronic shops and stores. Until now, the demand for cooling appliances in many European countries remained relatively low because the climate rarely necessitated them. However, the current heatwave has changed people’s priorities almost overnight.

Compared to other regions, the use of such devices is less common. In Japan and Australia, only around 20 percent of households use AC, and Europe too has had comparatively lower air conditioner usage. In India, only around 20 percent of households use AC, primarily because most people cannot afford it, unlike in Europe. However, despite the lower percentage of households using air conditioners, Indians have adapted to living in high temperatures through generations. Traditional house designs, ceiling fans, coolers, shaded streets, loose cotton clothing, and changes in daily routines have helped people cope with the summer heat. Europeans, on the other hand, have had little need to develop such adaptations because extreme heat was historically uncommon.

According to available estimates, in India, around 1.5 crore ACs ACs were sold on average for residential and commercial purposes. In China, nearly 10 crore ACs were sold. This year in Europe, around 1.6 crore ACs are expected to be sold. If the heat wave continues, this average may rise further because people have the purchasing power to quickly buy cooling appliances. This sudden increase in demand clearly shows how climate patterns are changing, even in regions once known for pleasant weather.

However, scientists argue that heat waves are linked to the broader issue of climate change on the planet. The higher levels of greenhouse gasesGreenhouse Gases (GHGs)Gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Examples include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. have raised the Earth’s temperature, thereby making heatwaves longer and more intense. Climate experts are of the opinion that rare phenomena are becoming regular worldwide.

Moreover, another global climate issue known as El Niño needs to be noted.. It is an event whose history is traced back to the sixteenth century. El Niño, which means “little boy” or “Christ Child,” was first observed off the Pacific coast of South America by fishermen who noted the warmth of the water and low fish numbers during certain years.

As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, “El Niño is not just knocking on the door. It risks blowing the house down, turning up heat, disrupting food and water systems, and hitting the vulnerable the hardest.”

El Niño occurs every two to seven years, alternating with its cooler sister phenomenon, La NiñaEl Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)The ‘cooler sister’ phenomenon to El Niño, characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, often leading to opposite weather effects globally.. Normally, a flow of winds, called trade winds, pushes warm ocean water from the surface westward into Asia in the equatorial Pacific Ocean., that push warm ocean water from the surface westward into Asia in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. If the strength of these winds is reduced, warm water shifts to the east, causing more heat to rise in the atmosphere, limiting cold upwelling in South America, and affecting global atmospheric circulation. in South America, and affecting global atmospheric circulation.

Consequently, wet and stormy weather can be expected in the southern United States and some areas of South America, making flooding more likely. Drought has become common in South Asia and Australia, making wildfires more likely. Simultaneously, global temperatures are rising.

The World Meteorological Organization has warned that stronger climate extremes are becoming more frequent. Scientists officially declared El Niño when sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean rose 0.5 degrees Celsius above average for several consecutive months, together with corresponding atmospheric changes.

The recent heatwave in Europe is therefore more than a seasonal event. It is a reminder that climate patterns are changing rapidly worldwide. Places once known for cool summers are now facing record-breaking temperatures, while countries traditionally accustomed to heat are also experiencing more intense and prolonged summers. Every nation, whether developed or developing, must prepare its infrastructure, healthcare systems, disaster response mechanisms, and climate policies for a future where extreme weather events may become increasingly common. Climate change is no longer a warning about tomorrow; it is a reality the world is witnessing today.