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Weather & Science

Not Everyone Is Feeling the Heat the Same Way in China

Lower-income workers with no choice but to face extreme temperatures outdoors are being impacted the most by global warming.  

Air conditioner units on a building in Shanghai. Over the past month scorching temperatures have affected 900 million people across China, killing several.

Air conditioner units on a building in Shanghai. Over the past month scorching temperatures have affected 900 million people across China, killing several.

Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
By
Bloomberg News

Under the burning sun in a temperature of 33 degrees Celsius, 48-year-old Dang Jianbin is sorting out dozens of packages outside an office building near the second ring road of Beijing. It’s almost lunch time, but he hasn’t had his breakfast yet. Dang’s only hope on such a hot day is to finish sending all the packages to their owners early and rest in the shade.

“I have no better options than working in the heat,” said Dang, a delivery man for one of China’s top courier-service companies, which he said he could not reveal without permission. “I have to make a living by doing this to support my children and my parents.”