Recently, heatwaves have hit many countries in Europe, with France, Spain, Germany and other nations experiencing extreme high temperatures. On June 28th local time, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros, stated on social media that since June 21st, over 1,300 excessive deaths related to high temperatures have been recorded in Europe.
But in the hot weather, there has been a fierce debate in Europe over whether air conditioning should be installed. Those who oppose installing air conditioning believe that such measures will exacerbate climate change and "damage the environment." On the other hand, those who support the installation of air conditioning argue that high temperatures already pose a threat to European health, and air conditioning is needed to help people cope with the heatwaves.
This disagreement has even escalated to a political level, with several left-wing and right-wing political parties in Europe engaging in a "war of words" over this issue. This leaves the world puzzled: Why are Europeans fighting over the issue of air conditioning?
However, although the disputes among different parties in Europe have not yet subsided, many European residents still decide to purchase air conditioners to cope with the hot weather. The portable split-type air conditioners introduced by Chinese companies are particularly popular in Europe and have become the top choice for many Europeans. Many European netizens also voluntarily advocate for Chinese air conditioners, praising their excellent cost-performance ratio and calling for increased imports from China.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports that environmental issues are the main cause of disputes among Europeans. Environmentalists believe that using air conditioners will increase electricity demand and release heat into the atmosphere, thereby "aggravating climate change." On the other hand, proponents of air conditioners and conservatives argue that using them is a key means to maintain a comfortable living environment and keep labor productivity high during hot weather.
During this heat wave, the highest temperatures in many parts of France exceeded 40°C. Data released by the French Public Health Agency on June 28 showed that more than 1,000 excess deaths were recorded during the three days from June 24 to 26, with the increase being more pronounced in areas under high-temperature red alerts.
The BBC pointed out that the air conditioning penetration rate in France is low, with only 25% of households having air conditioning installed, which is lower than the 50% in Spain and Italy. Many hospitals and schools also lack air conditioning equipment. Under the influence of extreme heatwaves, thousands of schools in France were forced to close last week, and many medical staff were dissatisfied with their working conditions.
On June 29th local time, in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, southern France, the region experienced high temperatures. IC photo
However, a fierce debate has erupted in France over whether residents should install air conditioners to cope with the heat, with the disagreement even reaching a political level. Leftists and environmentalists in France generally oppose the installation of air conditioners, arguing that it "damages the environment." On the other hand, right-wingers criticize the idea that "heat-related deaths are absurd" and advocate for the widespread installation of air conditioners throughout France.
For example, the French left-wing newspaper Le Monde published a commentary last week stating that air conditioning should be used as a “last resort,” and its installation and use is a “solution favored by the far-right.” Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the French left-wing party Solidarité France, also opposes the widespread installation of air conditioning. He said, “Absolutely not. Installing air conditioning everywhere will only exacerbate destruction.”
French right-wing political party La Nation leader Marine Le Pen said that if La Nation comes to power, she would implement a ‘large-scale air conditioning program’, starting ‘first in places where the most vulnerable people gather—hospitals, nursing homes, and schools’. La Nation advocates for the government to provide 20 billion euros in interest-free loans to purchase 30 million to 40 million air conditioners and insulation materials.
Another major economy in Europe, Germany, also faces similar controversies. Left-wing and green politicians have long criticized the "disadvantages" of air conditioners in the era of climate change. However, the e-commerce platform Verivox estimates that the proportion of households in Germany with air conditioners increased from 13% in 2023 to 19% in 2024, indicating a gradual increase in the number of households deciding to use air conditioners.
On June 28 local time, German media cited preliminary data from the German Meteorological Agency, stating that Germany recorded a high temperature of 41.7 degrees Celsius that day, breaking the country's historical record for the highest temperature for three consecutive days.
Facing record-breaking extreme heat, the German Green Party has been forced to make concessions regarding air conditioning. Katarina Delger, leader of the Green Party faction in the German Federal Parliament, called for the German government to take immediate action to install air conditioning systems in hospitals, nursing homes, childcare centers, and schools in order to cope with the heatwave.
But Delegg also asked the government to provide subsidies only for “solar air conditioning systems”, on the grounds that solar power generation can reduce the operating costs of air conditioners. She said, “In summer, solar panels can generate a large amount of cheap electricity. So I think it’s entirely feasible to combine air conditioners with solar panels.”
The right-wing Alternative for Germany has intensified its criticism of the government, accusing the governing coalition and the EU of “refusing to install air conditioners under the influence of ideology”. On the 29th, the party issued a statement in support of installing air conditioners, stating that “the Alternative for Germany parliamentary group advocates for economic, efficient, and humane construction, and opposes treating citizens as ‘sacrifices to ideology’.”
The party’s support rate in Germany is continuing to rise. A recent survey conducted by the polling agency YouGov shows that the party’s national support rate has reached 29%, which is 9 percentage points higher than that of the ruling coalition party.
Although Europe is going through a difficult time over the issue of air conditioning, this dispute puzzles the whole world. Alexander Kustov, an associate professor of global affairs at the University of Notre Dame in the United States, wrote in a commentary for The Wall Street Journal on the 29th that the penetration rate of air conditioners in the United States is much higher than that in Europe, and Americans cannot understand why Europeans are arguing over this issue.
He pointed out that extreme heat can pose serious health risks. In just 2022 alone, high temperatures caused 61,000 deaths in Europe, which has led more and more people to view air conditioning as a ‘solution’ and necessity.
June 24th, Brussels, Belgium. Air conditioning in a store. IC photo
Kustov believes that those who oppose air conditioners have legitimate concerns about energy consumption and other issues, but this problem can be addressed by developing clean energy sources. He noted that two-thirds of France's electricity comes from nuclear energy, and the rest mostly comes from low-carbon sources. The carbon emissions caused by using air conditioners in summer are not as serious as environmentalists claim.
Kustov accused some European politicians of exhibiting an "irrational" attitude. He wrote: "Regarding the issue of air conditioning, people are suffering from the heat... You don't have to support Le Pen, nor do you need to agree with her stance on issues like immigration, but it must be admitted that Le Pen is right regarding air conditioning."
According to an article published by the Australian News Network on the 26th, for most Australians, turning on the air conditioner in hot weather is a matter of course. However, no one could have imagined that problems with air conditioners would lead to political disputes in European countries like France.
The debate over air conditioners has left many Europeans feeling helpless. A European internet user who bought an air conditioner joked on social media: “I’m now a far-right person.”
Some people also call on European society to avoid politicizing the issue of air conditioning. Some netizens emphasize that air conditioners are merely devices used for cooling. “Stop acting like idiots.”
Facing unbearable heat conditions, more and more Europeans still choose to buy air conditioners. Chinese companies have introduced easy-to-install mobile split air conditioners, which have become the preferred choice for many Europeans.
A German netizen mentioned on social media that air conditioners in local stores have been sold out. The mobile split air conditioners produced by Chinese companies are particularly popular, with all units sold within a 100-kilometer radius.
Customs data shows that in the first five months of this year, China's exports of air conditioners to three Western European countries—France, the Netherlands, and Belgium—increased by double digits compared to the same period last year. Exports of air conditioners to Central and Southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Germany also saw significant growth, with figures exceeding double digits.
Under the heatwave, Chinese air conditioners have been sold out in major European stores. Some consumers spent two days searching across the entire European Union. They drove 200 kilometers just to buy the last unit, and the price increased by 100 euros. Many European netizens have taken action to advocate for Chinese air conditioners, praising their high cost-effectiveness and calling for more imports from China.
The German magazine 'Zeit magazine' also admitted that under the scorching sun, arguments against air conditioning are unlikely to be recognized by the public. The simple promise of 'installing air conditioning' is more likely to gain support from Europeans.
European News TV pointed out that compared to North America and Asia, the use of air conditioners in Europe is very low. Only about 19% to 20% of households have air conditioners. According to EU statistics, Italy ranks first in terms of electricity consumption for air conditioning, accounting for more than one-third of the total electricity consumption for air conditioning in all EU member states. Greece, France, and Spain follow closely behind.
Reports indicate that the issue of air conditioning penetration in Europe involves many factors. One reason is that, historically, many European countries had mild climates, resulting in relatively limited demand for air conditioning. Vincent Vigeard, a researcher at the Center for International Environmental Studies in Paris, France, said: “Due to the climate in the 20th century and earlier, air conditioning was not very effective in most parts of France. Summer and winter were both relatively mild at that time.”
But Vigier pointed out that with global climate change in recent years, heatwaves in Europe have become more frequent, and “the situation is changing.”
Meanwhile, the architectural design in many European countries has also increased the difficulty of installing air conditioning systems. Many old buildings do not have space reserved for air conditioning ducts. For some historical buildings, to install outdoor units is often necessary with the consent of the property owners and approval from municipal authorities, in order to preserve the appearance of the building.
European News TV reported that after enduring continuous high temperatures, European countries that historically did not rely heavily on air conditioning are facing a difficult decision: to fully adopt air conditioning or to resist it and seek alternative solutions.
The EU leadership is trying to avoid controversy and is unwilling to make comments. Anna-Kaisa Itekorn, spokesperson for European Commission climate affairs, stated on the 29th that the Commission will not take a position in the 'air conditioning debate'.
Itkönen said, “We know that most residential buildings and apartments in the EU do not have air conditioning systems. Air conditioning is not a standard feature, especially considering that most homes in Europe are actually quite old. We don’t have a clear position on whether to support or oppose air conditioning. However, we do consider it a policy issue that relates to building renovations and energy efficiency. It is also part of our housing strategy.”
Itekönen stated that the primary task of the European Commission is to ensure a “efficient and effective transition to climate neutrality”. However, she added that if the political environment changes, there is no reason to exclude the European Commission from re-evaluating its position.
