In South Asia, areas of India and Pakistan have been hit by high temperatures since March of this year. Parts of India exceeded 44 degrees Celsius at the end of March, and at least 90 people died as a result; in June, Tokyo exceeded 35 degrees Celsius for nine consecutive days, the worst heat wave there since records began in the 1870s; in mid-July, the United Kingdom saw its first high temperature above 40 degrees Celsius since it began monitoring temperatures. Meanwhile, droughts and wildfires under the heat wave spread in France, Spain, Greece, Germany and other places. The drought profoundly affected Europe's food, shipping, energy and other areas. In the town of Kaub in the middle Rhine, there is an old water level measuring station where any captain entering the upper Rhine would refer to the water level recorded. after August 12, its water level scale dropped below 40 cm, meaning that the water level was no longer suitable for most ships.
The Rhine, which originates in the Alps, is the largest river in Western Europe and is also known as the "lifeline" of the European economy, with commodities such as food, coal and chemicals relying on this vital transport route to reach their destinations.
For Germany, 80 percent of its waterway transport is done on the Rhine. Because of the declining water level of the Rhine, it is only a matter of time before chemical or steel plants close, mineral oil products such as oil and construction materials cannot reach their destinations, and large-volume and heavy transport cannot continue, said Holger, vice president of the Federation of German Industries, in a statement in mid-August.
Tu told China Newsweek that the European energy market was already in a highly tight balance this year against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. At present, the EU is multi-pronged attempts to get rid of the high dependence on Russian gas imports as soon as possible, Europe is also actively stepping up energy reserves for the winter. And now, shipping, including coal transportation, is severely affected by high temperatures and dry weather, making the security of European energy supplies face an even greater challenge.
In South Asia, areas of India and Pakistan have been hit by high temperatures since March of this year. Parts of India exceeded 44 degrees Celsius at the end of March, and at least 90 people died as a result; in June, Tokyo exceeded 35 degrees Celsius for nine consecutive days, the worst heat wave there since records began in the 1870s; in mid-July, the United Kingdom saw its first high temperature above 40 degrees Celsius since it began monitoring temperatures. Meanwhile, droughts and wildfires under the heat wave spread in France, Spain, Greece, Germany and other places. The drought profoundly affected Europe's food, shipping, energy and other areas. In the town of Kaub in the middle Rhine, there is an old water level measuring station where any captain entering the upper Rhine would refer to the water level recorded. after August 12, its water level scale dropped below 40 cm, meaning that the water level was no longer suitable for most ships.
The Rhine, which originates in the Alps, is the largest river in Western Europe and is also known as the "lifeline" of the European economy, with commodities such as food, coal and chemicals relying on this vital transport route to reach their destinations.
For Germany, 80 percent of its waterway transport is done on the Rhine. Because of the declining water level of the Rhine, it is only a matter of time before chemical or steel plants close, mineral oil products such as oil and construction materials cannot reach their destinations, and large-volume and heavy transport cannot continue, said Holger, vice president of the Federation of German Industries, in a statement in mid-August.
Tu told China Newsweek that the European energy market was already in a highly tight balance this year against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. At present, the EU is multi-pronged attempts to get rid of the high dependence on Russian gas imports as soon as possible, Europe is also actively stepping up energy reserves for the winter. And now, shipping, including coal transportation, is severely affected by high temperatures and dry weather, making the security of European energy supplies face an even greater challenge.
