A recent surge in heat-related deaths across Europe has drawn renewed attention to the region’s longstanding resistance to widespread air conditioning installation. Estimates indicate that over 20,000 fatalities occurred across the continent during a recent heat wave, with France reporting more than 2,000 excess deaths, Belgium 1,222, and the Netherlands 480. Experts warn that reluctance to embrace mechanical cooling systems may have contributed to these high mortality figures.

Despite the severity of recent heat events, several European governments and public figures continue to express skepticism or opposition toward air conditioning. The German Environment Ministry has stated that air conditioners “do not cool effectively,” while French far-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon has criticized AC use for allegedly harming “sinuses.” In Belgium, the city of Ghent has promoted tree planting as the “best air conditioner,” emphasizing natural shade over mechanical systems.

While urban greenery can mitigate the urban heat island effect, experts argue it is insufficient in extreme temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit (about 38 degrees Celsius). In contrast, air conditioning technology, developed in the early 20th century by Willis Carrier, provides a direct and efficient means to lower indoor temperatures and prevent heat-related illness.

Air conditioning adoption varies widely worldwide: approximately 90 percent of U.S. homes and even more in Japan are equipped with AC, while fewer than 20 percent of European households have installed cooling systems. Even countries with colder climates, such as Canada, have air conditioning in about two-thirds of residences.

Several factors contribute to Europe’s low air conditioning prevalence. Common explanations include claims that recent heat waves are an anomaly and that buildings are unsuitable for AC installation. However, many European homes were built after 1945, and Europe has previously suffered significant heat-related mortality, notably during the 2003 heat wave that killed over 70,000 people.

Experts point to cultural attitudes and regulatory obstacles as major barriers. Some Europeans view air conditioning as detrimental to health or environmentally harmful. Meanwhile, certain government policies, such as strict energy efficiency building codes, high electricity prices influenced by taxes and green energy mandates, and limitations on installing cooling devices, discourage homeowners from adopting AC. For example, in Geneva, Switzerland, homeowners must provide medical justification to install air conditioners, and in Britain, air conditioning in new homes faces effective bans under current regulations.

Healthcare facilities have also been slow to retrofit with cooling systems; in Germany, only one-third of hospitals have air-conditioned patient rooms, despite the vulnerability of patients to heat-related complications.

Opponents of air conditioning often cite concerns about its impact on climate change. However, analysts argue that heat-related deaths represent an urgent health crisis and that reducing carbon emissions requires a balanced approach. They note that cooling typically accounts for a smaller portion of building-related emissions compared to heating, which remains widespread and socially accepted in Europe. Furthermore, per capita carbon emissions in Europe and other developed regions are declining, while emissions growth is predominantly driven by emerging economies where AC use is rising rapidly.

Public health advocates emphasize that adapting to rising temperatures through increased air conditioning use is essential to prevent further loss of life. They stress that both heating and cooling are human responses to climatic conditions beyond those in which humans evolved and that effective adaptation strategies must include overcoming cultural and policy hurdles to ensure widespread access to cooling technologies.