Commentary: What sweltering European cities can learn from Singapore about air-conditioning
Climate scientist Winston Chow argues that temperate European cities should not necessarily adopt Singapore's heavy reliance on air conditioning. He suggests that while cooling was essential for Singapore's development, other regions should seek more sustainable climate adaptation strategies.
Why it matters
As global temperatures rise, cities are struggling to balance the need for cooling with the environmental impact of energy-intensive air conditioning systems.
Temperate cities do not need to copy Singapore’s dependence on air-conditioning, says climate scientist Winston Chow.
A woman uses an umbrella to shield herself from the sun while walking near Tower Bridge as Britain experiences record temperatures disrupting schools and transport networks, London, Jun 25, 2026. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
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