Germany limited electricity and hot water, Spain banned air conditioning settings below 27°C, and Italy chose to partially suspend classes...
Europe's energy crisis intensifies and countries are devastated
◎Written by Zhang Yuan
Since 2022, the energy crisis in Europe has continued to ferment. Natural gas prices in many countries have hit record highs, leading to soaring living costs. During this period, the vulnerability of Europe’s high dependence on imported energy has been fully exposed, and governments and residents of various countries have expressed that they are overwhelmed. .
In addition, Europe is facing a rare high temperature "big test" this summer, which continues to stimulate electricity demand; winter heating is coming soon, and Europe is struggling to "grab gas" to ensure supply... Under this combined influence, the European energy crisis has intensified and further pushed up the energy prices.
How are the lives of Europeans in this crisis?
What measures have countries taken to deal with the social crisis caused by this energy shortage?
It's clear that "throttling" to limit energy consumption is no longer enough.
Germany
Hot water lighting is limited for a limited time, and "deaths" are affected
Affected by Russia's continuous reduction in the gas transmission volume of the main European gas pipeline "North Stream-1", Germany, which is extremely dependent on imported natural gas, is deeply mired in an energy crisis.
On July 2, Jens Kerstein, head of the Environment Agency of the German city of Hamburg, said that the natural gas crisis may lead to the rationing of domestic hot water.
He also told Le Monde on Sunday that hot water would only be available at certain times of the day in the event of exceptional circumstances.
He also noted that the city of Hamburg is considering whether to lower the maximum temperature for private heating.
On July 5, the cooperative housing in the town of Dipoldiswald in the free state of Saxony, Germany, posted on social software announcing that due to rising energy prices, the residence will only provide hot water during peak hours in the morning, noon and evening, and on nine days. Completely shut down the heating system before months.
As soon as the news was released, it was slammed on social media, with netizens calling the move "crazy" and "brazen", and Federal Housing Minister Clara Gewitz also said: "Even if it's temporary, stop the hot water. The supply is also illegal." However, the chairman of the housing association believes that this move is to save energy and costs, and it will only benefit the tenant, not the landlord, but he also said that the company must negotiate with the tenant. Only a limited amount of hot water can be supplied for a limited time.
At the same time, the German government has decided to turn off outdoor advertising electronic screens, displays and LED lights in store facades and windows from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am from August 24.
Outdoor lighting has also been turned off at multiple public buildings, museums and monuments.
In Berlin, heating has been switched off in 200 public buildings, and iconic buildings such as the Berlin Cathedral and the Berlin Victory Column are no longer illuminated.
In Augsburg, the government lowered the temperature of public swimming pools, and in Mainz and Weimar, street lights were only turned on at certain times.
But the lights are easy to turn off, the water is easy to stop, but death never waits for anyone.
According to the German Funeral Association, about 1 million people die in Germany every year, and nearly three-quarters of them are cremated, a very high rate compared with other European countries.
Cremation is mainly a tradition left over from the former East Germany, and Germans prefer urns that are easy to carry and place over tombs that are not well maintained and long distances.
On August 1, local time, Sobolevsky, chairman of the German Crematorium Consortium, emphasized that if the country wants to implement a resource rationing system, the cremation industry should be given priority, because without natural gas, most crematoriums cannot operate.
"You can't turn off the switch of death," Sobolevsky said.
Electric cremation may replace gas cremation in the future, but it will require a process.
In the short term, a possible resource saving operation is to reduce the average temperature of the incinerator from the current 850°C to 750°C, thereby saving 10% to 20% of natural gas, although this measure requires special permission from the states.
Another option is to shut down some incinerators while keeping others running 24 hours a day, so the incinerators don't cool down and don't require more natural gas to reheat.
Karl-Heinz Kensgen, the manager of a crematorium in Dachsenhausen, told Reuters: "If the energy crisis worsens, we can also keep burning with less resources because the incinerators themselves are hot. Yes.” This approach can save 80% of natural gas, although not all crematoriums can adapt to this burning mode, and its justification remains to be seen.
Spain
Advocating to change "cool" dress, indoor air conditioner "temperature limit" angers the public
The energy crisis swept across Europe, but Spain's response was somewhat different.
On July 29, local time, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attended a press conference on the theme of saving energy. At the meeting, he wore a navy blue suit, but did not wear a tie as usual, and called on other government officials, enterprises Staff have followed this practice to change "cool" clothing and reduce their reliance on air conditioners.
"I want you all to notice that I'm not wearing a tie, which means that we can all do our part to save energy, and I've asked other government officials to do the same," Sanchez said at the meeting. imitate."
Spain has been sweltering this summer, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in some areas. Statistics from Spain's Carlos III Health Institute show that since June, the number of deaths due to high temperatures has exceeded 4,000. Coupled with energy shortages, changing to "cool" attire will never be the only measure.
In August, the Spanish government also issued a new decree prohibiting companies, shopping malls and other public places from setting the temperature of air conditioners below 27°C, while stipulating that the heating temperature in winter should not exceed 19°C.
Laura Birch, a civil servant in Valencia, Spain, questioned the practicality of the measure, telling Euronews: "Generally you can work at 27C, but in very hot places you have to First turn the air conditioner to 22°C, 23°C, and turn it on for a period of time before the room temperature can reach 27°C, but now the air conditioner is not allowed to be turned on below 27°C at all, which requires more time in advance to let the room temperature drop, and the working time of the air conditioner Longer, but no energy savings.”
The catering industry has reacted particularly strongly to the new decree. Cesar Garcia, a restaurant owner in a small town in Segovia, believes that the new regulation is "nonsense". He said: "During the epidemic prevention and control period, the catering industry has It has been strictly regulated, and now the government is going to tighten it up. Unless I am really punished, I will not abide by it." Although 25 ° C seems to be a more reasonable temperature, Garcia believes that it is not enough. "When we set the temperature in the restaurant at 18°C, the temperature in the store will remain around 24°C. People are walking on the street at 40°C, and when they come in, they definitely want the store to be cool. If Set the temperature of the air conditioner at 25°C, and when the doors of the restaurant and kitchen are opened and closed, the temperature in the store will rise to 28°C.”
The attitude of the Spanish government has been moderated by the unanimous opposition. The new regulations have lifted the "27°C" limit for hospitals, universities, primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and hairdressing salons. Bars, restaurants and some shops can also set the temperature at around 25°C , but these exceptions can only appear in places with physical labor, and in places where employees are sedentary, such as offices, the "27°C" limit is still in effect.
U.K.
Higher energy bills as a share of household income may trigger a mental health crisis
The British Health Service Federation (NHS Federation) issued a warning on its official website on August 19: "If the government does not take measures to deal with rising energy bills, the United Kingdom may face a 'humanitarian crisis'." According to It is estimated that by January 2023, 32% of households in the UK will use 20% of their income to pay for energy. falling apart.
In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where fuel poverty is defined as spending more than 10% of a household's income on energy, Cornwall Insights analyzes that, even with the government's promised £400 per household tax rebate, the UK's fuel poverty rate It will also hit 54% from October and 66% by January, when the energy price cap is estimated to be as high as £4,266, compared to just £1,200 in March 2021.
In the paper "Debt, Income, and Mental Illness," published by Jenkins and Bugera, among others, debt has been shown to be inextricably linked to mental illness.
People with mental health issues are more than four times as likely to owe electricity bills and three times more likely to owe gas bills.
Over time, pressures such as unpaid energy bills and soaring living costs can lead to a worsening of mental illness, not to mention the potential impact of a prolonged economic downturn on the mental health of local residents.
Research by the Institute for Health Equity shows that cold rooms are bad for children's academic performance, emotional well-being and resilience, and children who don't live in a warm place are five times more likely to develop mental health problems than the average child.
Alexander Lockwood, a staff member of Walk With You, a medical organisation that provides physical and mental health services and promotes people to people, shared on MSN: "The mental health service system is falling apart, and waiting times in the NHS are higher than Ever longer, more and more people are struggling on the poverty line and I don't know what's going to happen next. I'm worried about my future and the future of my generation... Economic anxiety doesn't mean it to me Not new, and not new to people with mental illness, this anxiety can be said to be 'rampant'. Patients with depressive-manic depression can have a direct impact on their financial well-being at the onset of the disorder.
Italy
School costs are too high, time-limited suspension disrupts teacher-student plans
Italy has aimed its breakthrough at high schools. David Michel, the deputy governor of the Italian province of Verona, is in charge of school education. In August this year, he announced that in order to save natural gas and reduce costs, Verona would stop high school weeks. For six of the classes, shut down the school's heating and electricity systems.
Unlike many places, Italian high schools take five years to study, the first two years are basic teaching, and the last three years students will learn professional skills according to their own interests and development directions.
Students' class time is from 8:30 to 11:30 from Monday to Saturday, and there is usually no class in the afternoon.
With only two weeks to go until the start of Italian high schools, the sudden cancellation of Saturday classes has left schools and students a bit "messy", but soaring energy costs have forced the Italian government to take measures.
David Mitchell's move is very difficult to implement, and not everyone agrees with the proposal.
Stefano Marcon, the head of the Treviso administrative region in Italy, believes that the provincial governor has no right to interfere in the operation of schools, and the government needs to act to solve the energy problem.
In addition, the Democrats are also opposed to making school education a victim.
But schools have their own setbacks: From 2020 to 2021, the cost of energy for schools in the province of Verona was about 3.5 million euros. Now this figure has increased by 60% and may reach 8 million euros, Michel said. Too expensive. Shorten the number of days in school to reduce repayment pressure and reduce energy bills.
The Governor of Vicenza Province also responded to the proposal: "We need to sit down and talk about this issue, formulate a national plan, and every order issued must consider the operability and cannot be superficial. Shorten School days is a good idea, but closing classes on Saturday will have a 'disruptive effect' and everything will have to be rescheduled."
Democratic Party Irene Manzi also opposed this proposal, she said: "During the epidemic, children and families have already suffered a huge blow in education and learning, so now that the school is about to start, we can no longer let these people who have already suffered. Continue to suffer. This time, we must put schooling first and not let it fall prey to another disaster (the energy crisis)."
Globalization of the Energy Crisis
developing countries also suffer
Due to regional conflicts, extreme weather and other factors, the dilemma brought about by the energy crisis seems to have no end in sight.
"We're going through the first global energy crisis," said Jason Bodoff, an energy expert at Columbia University, in a July 2022 interview with Foreign Policy, noting that the energy crisis has affected nearly every country and region in the world, "Chain Reactions are emerging globally and I don't think we've seen the worst yet."
Bodoff went on to say: “[Because] it’s an interconnected global system, and when you put pressure in one place, it’s felt elsewhere. If the developed world can barely hold on to an energy shock, some The developing countries are completely worse off.
The South African daily "Rapport" reported on August 15 this year that several military bases of the South African Defense Forces were shut down due to their inability to purchase fuel and conduct vehicle maintenance.
According to reports, 75% of South Africa's air force is grounded due to lack of spare parts and fuel, and some military vehicles cannot be replaced due to insufficient budget.
Prior to this, South Africa's economy had declined due to the epidemic. South Africa decided to cut the defense budget to ease the economic pressure. The current Minister of Defense and Veterans of South Africa, Tandy Modise, warned the South African government that if the defense budget continued to be cut, South Africa would Struggling to respond to some violent protests; former Defence and Veterans Minister Nosivi Mapisa Nkakula believes that under such circumstances, South Africa risks losing its state-owned defense industrial base, as well as repairing, The ability to maintain and overhaul most defense systems.
When South Africa was struggling, Sri Lanka had declared bankruptcy on July 5 this year. After bankruptcy, Sri Lanka "survived" with patience. In order to add five liters of gasoline, tricycle drivers had to queue for five days; Need to queue up.
At the same time, another kind of excitement also exists. The staff of hospitals, banks and post offices have to squeeze buses to go to work every day. Buses are one of the only means of transportation with guaranteed energy supply in this country. These buses At peak times, 110 people can be carried, and if someone hangs outside the bus, that number becomes 150.
In addition to South Africa and Sri Lanka, other economically underdeveloped countries and regions are also in a dilemma.
In order to avoid the same fate, many countries have turned their attention to coal. India announced the re-mining of old mines in May this year. In June, India’s coal mine imports hit a record high. The Indian government said that due to power shortages, coal mining and purchases will lasts a long time.