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As heat wave grips Shanghai, some pay more than others for urban conveniences
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SHANGHAI was in the grip of an unprecedented heat wave until last week, with daily temperatures hovering above 35 degrees Celsius for 11 days in a row by July 30.
When braving such sizzling heat on an unshaded stretch of pavement, it might elude us that Shanghai is both a “promised land” for migrants, and a magnet for expatriates and tourists.
One senior colleague who is a Shanghai native says it was not so hot when he was young. The temperature rarely exceeded 34 degrees, according to him, and on summer evenings he would go to a road near People’s Square and lie down to exchange gossip with neighbors. The occasional motor vehicle whirring past would bring a welcome gust of air in its wake.
This is not merely nostalgia for the past. There is evidence that Shanghai has been getting hotter. According to one statistic, from 1873 to July 2016, there were 11 days when the daily high exceeded 40 degrees. Except for two instances in 1934, these temperatures were all registered after 2008, with last week alone accounting for two instances.
An academic paper I managed to find online concludes that since the 1980s the number of “extremely hot” days recorded in downtown Shanghai has increased markedly compared with suburban areas. So far, we seem indifferent to the rising heat, especially as technology enables us to cope simply by consuming more energy.
On July 28, the city’s electricity consumption reached a record new high of 31,384 megawatts, up 5 percent over last year — but do not take this as a warning. Local authorities were quick with assurances that the city had enough power to keep running.
Unlike in previous years when brownouts or blackouts were sometimes introduced, there seems to be no such worries this year; possibly as an unexpected boon of economic rebalancing. At night, as usual, the exterior of some landmarks are illuminated in dazzling ornamental light.
The heat affects some people more than others. There is a world of difference between those who are exposed to outdoor heat for long hours, and those who cast an occasional glance outside from an air-conditioned office.
Thus I doubt if green policies conceived in an air-conditioned room can hope to address climate change with the high seriousness the issue deserves.
Last Friday morning, after getting off the bus, I had to traverse a lane in a park, and I was somewhat aghast to find a middle-aged cleaner diligently rubbing the surface of a lamppost in the suffocating morning heat. Fifteen minutes later, when I went into my office lobby, I saw another cleaner sweeping the floor.
In days like this, there are broadly speaking two professions, those pursued indoors and those practiced outdoors.
Outdoor workers also include the delivery men who perennially scuttle to and fro on the roads. On Saturday alone, four delivery men delivered to my home four parcels ordered by my wife the previous day. These parcels included such trifles as sunscreen, lip balm and hats.
Economic implications
Of course, I’ve heard of China’s much-discussed demographic dividend, but still remain amazed at the mysterious forces that make this dividend work so hard in such inclement weather.
We also have outdoor workers who deliver a more substantial service.
Shanghai Daily reported on July 29 of a Metro maintenance worker who patrols the tracks between noon and 2 pm, when the temperature could rise to 50 degrees. Inspections at this time are meant to assess the effect of heat on the metal.
Eastday.com also recently offered a portrait of working conditions for some ground personnel at Hongqiao Airport.
“Of the 12 summers I’ve been working here, the hottest are 2014 and this year; though it seems this year is hotter,” said 37-year-old Li Huihua on July 28.
Temperatures around the exhaust vent of an airplane engine can exceed 140 degrees, even after shut-off. Within the luggage hold, temperatures soar to 46 degrees, which baggage handlers may have to endure for upwards of 30 minutes. These conditions contrast so starkly from a Metro or air travel experience and afford us a rare glimpse into the effect of heat on some workers. Still, a liberal supply of energy allows the rest of us to assess situation with a sort of detachment.
Technology has enabled us to achieve any degree of coolness with the touch of a button — all at the low price of pumping heat into the immediate environs. No one seems to be in need to justify this beggar-thy-neighbor approach.
My wife complained over the weekend that when she was on duty at the hospital, she had to wrap up in thick quilt, since the temperature is fixed at 22 degrees.
From a larger economic perspective, the heat might dampen consumption to a degree, but it might also be a blessing in disguise, by bolstering the lackluster power consumption. It will be probably registered as a temporary inconvenience that does not factor in the final reckoning.
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