Source: China News Network
"If you see me, cry." On the "Stone of Hunger" buried deep in the Elbe River in the Czech Republic, such a warning is engraved. Today's severe drought in Europe has brought a large number of "starvation stones" back to light. The dry riverbed even exposes historical sites that have been submerged for a long time.
However, under the attack of high temperature and drought, Europe not only feels "hot" and "thirsty", the drought has impacted people's livelihood and economy, exacerbated the European energy crisis, and also sounded the alarm bell of climate change.
The "Stone of Hunger" is back in the light of day
Persistent high temperatures and little rain have led to severe droughts in several European countries. As the water level of some rivers continues to decrease, the "Stone of Hunger" is back in the light of day.
On August 17, 2022, local time, in Voms, Germany, the low water level caused the "stone of hunger" to appear on the shore.
Reuters and the BBC reported that on the banks of Germany's largest river, many "starvation stones" appeared, bearing dates such as 1947, 1959 and 2018. In fact, these "hunger stones" are some riverbed rocks, often only appearing when the water level is extremely low, and some are engraved with warning messages left by previous people.
The "Hungry Stone" is not the only "artifact" that has seen light in this year's drought, but in Spain, which has suffered the worst drought in decades, a ring-shaped Stonehenge at the bottom of a reservoir has been brought to light. The report pointed out that this Stonehenge is known as the "Guadal peralal Stone Tomb" and dates back to 5000 BC.
In the central Spanish province of Cáceres, a ring stonehenge was exposed as the water level of the Valdecanias Reservoir plummeted.
And near Prahov in eastern Serbia, dozens of warship wreckage were exposed. These warships were confirmed to belong to the Black Sea Fleet of Nazi Germany, and many of them had large amounts of ammunition and explosives left behind.
The water level of the Po River in Italy dropped, and nearby fishermen found a bomb on the bare riverbed. The bomb reportedly weighed more than 450 kilograms and was left behind during World War II. The bomb was then taken to a safe area for blasting.
According to the European Drought Observatory (EDO), drought warnings are currently affecting more than 60 percent of Europe, and experts say this year could be the worst drought year in Europe's 500 years.
In recent weeks, countries such as France and Spain have had to start restricting water use. In parts of both countries, authorities have also been forced to cut off water supplies in certain specific circumstances.
It's not just drought
The problems caused by drought are not just bare riverbeds and scarce drinking water, it is also impacting Europe's livelihood economy, exacerbating the energy crisis and sounding the alarm bells of climate change.
In Villarta de los Montis, Spain, the local reservoir is severely drought-stricken, and when you look around, you think it is a desert.
High temperatures and droughts have had a multifaceted impact on Europe, with agriculture being the most direct. In Italy's Po region, where severe drought has dried up rice paddies, local farmers estimate that this year's rice harvest could be "cut off."
According to Al Jazeera, Qatar, the high temperature drought is causing huge losses to the European economy, and according to research conducted by several European economic experts, prolonged heat waves will affect Europe's gross domestic product (GDP), while the same study also predicts that Europe's GDP growth will decline by 0.5% compared with the past few years.
In recent years, the occasional energy crisis has not been "new" to Europe. However, on the one hand, the gas, oil and coal resources caused by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict are in an all-round shortage, and on the other hand, the huge energy demand caused by the continuous high temperature and drought, and the European energy crisis has worsened sharply.
Some experts say the ongoing drought in Europe has put pressure on power generation. Lustad Energy noted that electricity demand in some countries in July was 3 to 8 percent higher than in the same period in previous years. Electricity prices hit new highs in midsummer. July became the most expensive month on record for electricity prices in Germany, France, Italy and the Uk.
Transport systems such as the British subway and trains have been forced to slow down and reduce shifts to prevent the danger of the tracks being deformed due to high temperatures. A rail worker distributes bottled water to passengers at a train station in London.
Due to a variety of factors, the EU energy supply can not be guaranteed, and some European countries have restarted coal power projects for this purpose. In the current situation, the EU's ambitions to tackle climate change face many difficulties.
The energy crisis is pushing European governments back to their old energy models – including reliance on coal and fossil fuels – and that European countries appear to be abandoning their goal of reducing gas emissions by 55% by 2030, a situation that could further exacerbate the current situation.
Authorities, experts and public opinion generally agree that the high temperatures and droughts that swept across Europe this summer have once again sounded the alarm that climate change is intensifying. The World Meteorological Organization predicts that future heat waves will become common due to climate change caused by human activities, with temperatures in Europe rising faster than in other regions.