In the scorching streets of Kandahar, Afghanistan, taxi drivers have resorted to an ingenious yet simple solution to combat the oppressive heat—handmade air coolers mounted on their car roofs. With temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C (104°F), many drivers say factory-installed air conditioning often fails, leaving them and their passengers sweltering.
“This works better than built-in AC,” says Abdul Bari, a taxi driver who uses a plastic barrel, an exhaust tube, and tape to create his cooling system. Unlike conventional car AC, which only cools the front seats, his DIY device circulates air throughout the vehicle. The only downside? It requires refilling with water twice a day. Another driver, Gul Mohammad, spent 3,000 Afghanis ($43) to have a technician build a custom cooler after repeated AC breakdowns.
Passengers, too, are feeling the relief. “When there’s no cooler, it becomes unbearable,” says 19-year-old Norullah, who recently suffered heat exhaustion so severe he needed an IV drip. Afghanistan is enduring its hottest spring on record, with droughts devastating crops and livelihoods, according to the UN.
Yet, despite being one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, Afghanistan has been excluded from global climate negotiations since the Taliban took power in 2021. As temperatures continue to rise, these improvised coolers are more than just a quick fix—they’re a testament to resilience in a nation battling extreme weather with little outside support.