Air-conditioners are running full blast in central China as much as they are in Texas or on the Iberian peninsula. As many as 900m Chinese people have experienced record temperatures in recent days; more than 80 cities have issued heat alerts. In Zhejiang province, an important manufacturing centre in the east, some energy-intensive factories have been subject to power rationing. Thermometers in the region hit about 42°C on July 13th. Given the humidity, that feels more like 54°C.
For China’s leaders the roasting temperatures raise fears of a repeat of the energy crunch of last year. As power suppliers struggled to meet demand, many factories were forced to shut down, and some households experienced blackouts. The authorities have vowed to avoid shortages this time. But the turmoil in global energy markets caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Chinese government’s own lofty emissions targets present added complications.
