Heatwave in Tunisia: The Urgent Need to Redesign Cities to Reduce Dependence on Air Conditioning

Tunisia is experiencing a severe heatwave with temperatures exceeding 45°C, turning urban areas into extreme heat zones. Millions of Tunisians have turned to air conditioning, causing record electricity consumption that has strained the national grid operated by STEG. To prevent a total collapse, authorities have implemented rolling blackouts across many regions, disrupting daily life and causing major economic losses for businesses dependent on electricity and cooling. The article highlights the urgent need to redesign cities to reduce reliance on air conditioning, as the current infrastructure is not equipped to handle such extreme heat events, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.

Global Impact

This heatwave is a regional climate event with economic and social consequences for Tunisia. Economically, the power outages disrupt small and medium enterprises, which form the backbone of the local economy, and could slow GDP growth in the short term.