A series of extreme heatwaves hit Europe and North America in mid-2026. These events caused many deaths, damaged infrastructure, and started a serious debate about the use of air conditioning.

2026 年年中，一系列極端熱浪襲擊歐洲與北美。這些事件導致多人死亡、基礎設施受損，並引發了關於使用空調的激烈爭論。

Europe experienced severe weather patterns that trapped hot air over the continent, leading to record-breaking temperatures. For example, the UK reached 37.7°C and Hungary hit 42°C in June. Consequently, the World Health Organization reported thousands of additional deaths, with Spain and France each losing around 1,000 people. Furthermore, the heat caused widespread problems, such as bent railway lines, power failures, and water shortages in Slovakia and Hungary.

歐洲經歷了嚴重的天氣模式，導致熱空氣籠罩整個歐陸，引發破紀錄的高溫。例如，英國在六月達到 37.7°C，而匈牙利則達到 42°C。因此，世界衛生組織報告指出有數千人額外死亡，西班牙與法國各約有 1,000 人喪生。此外，高溫造成了廣泛的問題，例如鐵路軌道變形、停電，以及斯洛伐克與匈牙利的缺水現象。

There is a clear difference in how Europe and North America handle these heatwaves. In Europe, the use of air conditioning (AC) is limited by laws protecting old buildings, noise rules, and the belief that AC increases carbon emissions. In contrast, North Americans use AC extensively, but this has created new problems, such as power grids failing during peak demand. In the United States, a 'heat dome' caused temperatures to reach 115°F in New England and the Midwest, leading to emergency declarations in Boston and New York.

歐洲與北美處理熱浪的方式有明顯差異。在歐洲，空調 (AC) 的使用受到保護古建築的法律、噪音規範以及認為空調會增加碳排放的觀念限制。相比之下，北美地區廣泛使用空調，但這也造成了新問題，例如在用電高峰期間電網崩潰。在美國，一個「熱穹頂」導致新英格蘭與中西部的氣溫達到 115°F，促使波士頓與紐約宣布進入緊急狀態。

Experts now argue that AC should be seen as a standard tool rather than a political issue. Although some critics worry about energy use, data shows that doubling AC usage in Europe by 2050 would only increase regional emissions by 0.3%. Additionally, using bidirectional heat pumps is suggested as a more efficient alternative to old boilers, which could help meet climate goals while keeping people cool.

專家現在認為，空調應被視為一種標準工具而非政治議題。儘管部分批評者擔心能源消耗，但數據顯示，到 2050 年歐洲的空調使用量增加一倍，僅會使該地區的排放量增加 0.3%。此外，建議使用雙向熱泵作為舊式鍋爐更高效的替代方案，這有助於在維持涼爽的同時達成氣候目標。

As global temperatures continue to rise, countries must move from emergency reactions to a planned system of cooling infrastructure to prevent more deaths in the future.

隨著全球氣溫持續上升，各國必須從緊急反應轉向有計劃的冷卻基礎設施系統，以防止未來出現更多死亡病例。