Hell in Europe: What Lessons Can Lithuania Learn?

Lithuania is struggling to adapt to increasingly severe heatwaves, with measures like water misting in public squares and encouraging the use of public water stations proving insufficient. Dr. Saulius Čaplinskas, a professor of biomedical sciences, emphasized that heat is considered one of the most dangerous natural risk factors, leading to increased heart attacks, strokes, dehydration, and exacerbation of chronic illnesses, particularly affecting the elderly, infants, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing conditions.

Despite the growing need for cooling, access remains limited. Many public transport vehicles still lack air conditioning, and only about 20% of Lithuanian households have air conditioners. A survey from three years prior indicated a growing acceptance of home air conditioning, but cost and noise remain significant deterrents. Furthermore, installing an air conditioner in an apartment building requires the consent of neighbors, a process that can be complicated by the need for signatures and permits.

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During heat waves, heart attacks, strokes, dehydration, kidney damage increase, and respiratory system and other chronic diseases worsen. The greatest risk is to the elderly, infants, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses

The Ministry of Environment states that building facades and exterior walls are common property, meaning the installation of external air conditioning units cannot be decided by individual apartment owners. Such decisions require a vote by all apartment and premises owners, as stipulated by the Civil Code. This regulation aims to protect the rights of all co-owners, preserve the building's architectural appearance and structural safety, and prevent negative impacts like noise or improper use of common property.

While the ministry acknowledges that climate change is increasing the need for cooling, it maintains that this alone is not sufficient grounds to waive the requirement for co-owner consent. Meanwhile, neighboring countries like Germany and the Czech Republic have experienced extreme heatwaves, with Germany recording its highest temperature ever at 41.7 degrees Celsius and the Czech Republic reaching 41.9 degrees. Prague alone saw 85 heat-related health issues in one weekend, compared to 40 for the entire previous year, underscoring the urgent need for effective cooling strategies.

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the facade and exterior walls of an apartment building are common property objects, therefore the installation of the external unit of an air conditioner cannot be decided at the sole discretion of the owner of one apartment.