From the BBC:
“Spain
heatwave: PM tells workers to stop wearing ties to save energy”
Spanish Prime
Minister Pedro Sanchez has called on workers in the public and private sector
to stop wearing ties, as an energy saving measure in the heat. Mr Sanchez said
his government will adopt "urgent" energy-saving measures on Monday
as European countries strive to become less dependent on Russian gas in the
wake of the war in Ukraine. On Friday, temperatures reached 36C (96.8 F) in
Madrid and 39C in Seville. Over the past few weeks Europe has experienced
record-high temperatures. At a news conference in Madrid, Mr Sanchez pointed
out that he wasn't wearing a tie - and said he wanted his ministers, public
officials, and workers in the private sector to do the same. "This means
that we can all save energy", he added. The prime minister said the move
will ensure people stay cooler and therefore lower energy costs, because air
conditioners will be used less often.
Spain is not
the first to take this move. In 2011, Japan introduced its "Super Cool
Biz" campaign, which encouraged office workers to wear cooler clothes in
summer. And during sweltering temperatures in the UK recently, politicians were
told they could ditch their suit jackets while in the House of Commons. Mr
Sanchez's government is working on an energy-saving decree, which is expected
to be approved on Monday. It includes a move to encourage businesses to keep
their doors closed where possible, to prevent air conditioning from escaping. A
similar rule was introduced in France earlier this week.
The measures
are part of the European Commission's €210bn (£176bn) plan to boost renewable
energy and reduce European countries' dependency on Russian gas following its
invasion of Ukraine. Germany is following suit, with one of its cities,
Hanover, announcing that it would only offer cold showers in public pools and
sports centres. Extremely high temperatures over the past couple of weeks have
led governments across the world to reconsider their energy usage - from an
environmental and cost saving perspective. Heatwaves have become more frequent,
more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change. The
world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures
will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to
emissions. As well as increasing energy costs, recent heatwaves have led to
more than 500 deaths in Spain over the past two weeks. The World Health
Organization said Europe's most recent heatwave has led to "needless
deaths".
^ Forget the
heat wave this is just someone trying to be “too cool for school.” ^
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