Is an Air-Conditioning Revolution Coming to Europe?
This article explores the growing demand for air conditioning in Europe as the continent faces more frequent and intense heat waves. It discusses the political polarization surrounding AC adoption and the urgent need for efficient, equitable cooling solutions to protect public health.
Why it matters
The shift toward widespread AC usage in Europe represents a significant change in infrastructure and energy policy with major climate implications.
Politicians are, of course, turning ACs into a weapon in their broader culture wars. Far-right figure Marine Le Pen pledged to roll out air-conditioning across France if her party comes to power, while the British Conservatives vowed to overturn net-zero rules that restrict AC installation in new builds. On the left, the argument runs that air-conditioning would mainly benefit the rich and not those who need it most. It would also lock Europe into the same high-energy cooling spiral seen in the US and Asia. To date, only around 20 percent of Europeans have AC at home (and a mere 4 percent in the UK), compared with roughly 90 percent in the US, where electricity is considerably cheaper.
The article presents multiple perspectives on the AC debate, including political, environmental, and public health viewpoints.
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