In the hot southern city of Kandahar, Afghanistan, a unique grassroots solution is emerging to combat the excessive heat. This has nothing to do with government initiatives or aid from other countries. It’s about regular people utilizing their creativity and determination to solve their challenges. The Kandahar cab cooler is a great example of a DIY project that is helping drivers and customers stay cool during the city’s dangerously hot summer months.
Most drivers in Kandahar can’t afford to fix their air conditioning systems when they break down, which happens a lot in older or poorly maintained cars. They are making their cooling systems by putting together barrels, plastic pipes, and water on the roof of their buildings because the temperature often goes over 40°C (104°F).
Let’s look at how this simple but efficient approach is changing transportation in one of the hottest and hardest places on Earth.
What Made the Kandahar Taxi Cooler Idea Happen?
The summers in Kandahar are very hot. Taxi drivers typically have to deal with the worst of the bad weather because there isn’t much public infrastructure to deal with the heat, and they can’t always get dependable energy or climate control.
When factory-installed automotive air conditioners go down, it’s hard to find or afford spare parts. Most drivers can’t afford to keep their air conditioning units working.
Gul Mohammad, a 32-year-old taxi driver, talked about how he grew to love the Kandahar taxi cooler. He said, “A few years ago, the weather started to get hot.” “The air conditioning systems in these cars didn’t work, and fixing them was too expensive.” I went to a technician and had a cooler manufactured just for me.
His answer cost only 3,000 Afghanis, or around $43. It was a modest amount of money, but it made a tremendous difference when he was on the road for a long time.
How do these coolers work?
The way these rooftop coolers work is shockingly simple. Most systems have a small water tank or barrel, a simple fan, an exhaust tube, and some flexible materials to seal and attach the system. There is water in the barrel, and the fan blows air through it. The air cools down as it goes over the water and into the car through the exhaust tube.
You don’t need to be an expert to install it. Drivers often use tape, clamps, or straps to hold the barrel to the roof and the vent to a window.
Abdul Bari, another cab driver, thinks this way works better than air conditioning in the factory. “Air conditioners only cool the front.” He said, “This cooler moves air around the car.”
Drivers have to fill the water tank by hand twice a day, but it’s worth it. The Kandahar cab cooler works all the time without needing expensive repairs or unreliable power sources.
What do passengers think of the new idea?
Passengers in Kandahar have thanked the taxi drivers for the cool cars. For them, getting away from the heat is more than simply a luxury; it can save their lives.
Norullah, a 19-year-old student who often takes taxis, talked about how the heat may affect people. “It’s very hard when there’s no cooler.” He remarked, “I even carry medicine that keeps me from getting too hot.” He also remembered needing IV therapy after getting heat exhaustion on a recent vacation.
These makeshift cooling systems are a nice addition to local taxis. Riders can go longer distances without getting too hot or dehydrated. The Kandahar cab cooler is especially important for weak people, such as the elderly, children, or people with health problems.
Is climate change making Afghanistan hotter?
Yes, and a lot. Afghanistan is one of the countries that will be hit most by climate change. From April to June this year, it saw the hottest spring on record, with temperatures hitting levels never seen before in several parts of the country.
A severe drought has spread across the country, making the situation worse. Water shortages are affecting farming, animals, and the water supply in cities. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says that these conditions are making life in the countryside much harder and making poverty worse.
Climate specialists have been saying for a long time that Afghanistan’s environmental problems will get worse since there aren’t enough ways to deal with them. Sadly, Afghanistan has not been able to take part in international climate talks since the Taliban took over in August 2021. This has made it harder for countries to work together and made the country much more open to environmental shocks.
In this case, local creativity is a way to stay alive. The Kandahar taxi cooler is a real-world illustration of how regular people are finding ways to deal with tough problems with few resources. Read another article on the Pacific Islands Climate Threat
What may other places learn from Kandahar’s answer?
The story of the Kandahar taxi cooler is not just a local one. It stands for being strong, creative, and able to solve problems when things get tough.
People with modest incomes or who live in hot climates in other regions of the world may also benefit from similar grassroots efforts. You can make rooftop coolers like the ones used in Kandahar with materials that are easy to find and don’t need a lot of power, so they’re great for places that don’t have a lot of power or countries that are running out of it.
This kind of adaptation is also a wake-up call for world leaders. People don’t just give up when systems fail or institutions aren’t there; they come up with new ideas. But for long-term answers, we will need to put money into them, support them, and be a part of global climate initiatives.
What makes this new idea more than just a way to cool things down?
These custom-made coolers give you immediate relief, but they also show you how to be self-sufficient in times of disaster. These cab drivers are setting an example in a country where the economy, politics, and environment are all unstable.
They’ve proved that it’s still possible to come up with useful, cheap alternatives when traditional infrastructure fails. They’ve also established something that helps everyone in the community. The Kandahar taxi cooler innovation keeps the local economy flowing by keeping passengers safe and on the go.
As temperatures are predicted to climb even more in the next few years, these kinds of local inventions will become even more important. What started as a quick remedy is now a must-have for staying alive.
Conclusion: Change is always happening.
The story of the Kandahar taxi cooler is one of determination and the power to change. As climate change gets worse and official mechanisms break down, people are coming up with real, scalable remedies.
These coolers aren’t just temporary things. They show that new ideas can still grow even in the worst conditions. And maybe most importantly, they teach us that being creative is frequently the best way to deal with a situation.
