A deadly heat wave in Europe is highlighting the continent's cultural and economic resistance to air conditioning. France's record heat last week has been linked to around 1,000 deaths, primarily among the elderly. Europe, the world's fastest-warming continent, has more heat-related deaths per capita than any other region.
Despite this, European officials are not uniformly embracing widespread air conditioning. The World Health Organization has noted more than 1,300 heat-related excess deaths in Europe since late June. Experts argue that while air conditioning can cut heat-related mortality, its widespread installation would increase urban heat and accelerate warming.
The approach varies by country. Italy has a higher adoption rate, with 56% of homes equipped with air conditioning, accounting for a third of the EU's related energy use. In contrast, many citizens in nations like France prioritize environmental concerns, with one survey showing one in six would rather suffer the heat than contribute to climate change. Governments are instead funding alternative cooling solutions, such as public cooling stations and wearable monitoring technology for the elderly.