Recently, hot waves have been severe in many parts of France. French media reported on June 26 that images on social platforms showed a large crowd immediately gathering at a home appliance store in Saint-Bray-le-Comte, Tours, France, as soon as the store opened. People rushed to grab air conditioners and fans.
The video shows that a large number of people and impatient shoppers caused serious pushing in the air-conditioning aisle. Due to limited inventory of air-conditioners, several customers had arguments on the spot.
Carrefour's CEO Alexander Bonpal said that on June 22, Carrefour's sales of household appliances were 1000 times higher than usual.
Recently, most parts of France have experienced continuous high temperatures. Data from the French Meteorological Office shows that the national average temperature in France reached 30°C on the 24th, breaking the record for the second consecutive day. Some areas, including Paris, had maximum temperatures exceeding 40°C.
This heat wave that swept across Western Europe was unprecedented in both its intensity and its early arrival. It posed a serious challenge to the power system and also sparked debates regarding whether air conditioning is necessary during prolonged high temperatures.
French right-wing politician Le Pen calls for large-scale subsidies to make air conditioning more accessible to everyone.
French environmental activists have long argued that using air conditioners only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause of global warming. They claim that these measures can only alleviate the effects of high temperatures caused by climate change.
The practice of deliberately promoting environmental protection can potentially become a health hazard during the heat of summer. The French industry association IGNES recently released a report warning that “a large number of residences are completely unable to withstand high temperatures.” In the survey, nearly half of the houses became literal “high-temperature steam boxes” during the heatwave.
The Green Party, which has always been opposed to air conditioners, has also admitted that it is becoming a common practice to install air conditioners in some places.
Currently, the penetration rate of air conditioners in France is low, with only 25% of households equipped with air conditioning. The same is true for hospitals and schools. In contrast, the penetration rate of air conditioners in households in Spain and Italy reaches 50%, while in the United States and Japan it is as high as 90%.
