Heatwave as Political Failure: Climate Crisis Exposes Inequality

A recent record heatwave in Germany, described as politically driven, would have been virtually impossible without the climate crisis, according to an opinion piece in 'Freitag'. The article highlights how extreme heat exacerbates social inequality, with those who can afford air conditioning, pools, or escapes to cooler regions on one side, and those living in apartments that heat up to over 40 degrees Celsius on the other, unable to even run a fan due to electricity costs. The author's personal experience of living on the second floor behind a row of linden trees is noted as relatively privileged. The piece calls the heatwave a result of poor policy decisions.