Europe is grappling with intense heatwaves, leading to more than 1,300 deaths since June 21, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite this, some European officials remain critical of widespread air conditioning use.

France's Minister of Ecological Transition, Monique Barbut, expressed concern over the environmental impact of air conditioning, questioning, "You think it will avoid forest fires?" She acknowledged emergency allowances for cooling technology but stated, "It is not adaptation to climate change."

Reports indicate Barbut avoided heat-related travel disruptions by switching from train to airline tickets. Paris Deputy Mayor Audrey Pulvar also criticized American advocacy for air conditioning, while the European Commission headquarters in Brussels limited air conditioning to higher-level staff, shutting it down for lower-level employees.

Meanwhile, staff at the Berlaymont building in Brussels received an urgent notice forcing the shutdown of the air cooling system from floors 1 to 7 due to extreme weather conditions, as reported by Politico's Sebastian Starcevic.

A 2023 report titled Sustainable, Affordable Cooling Can Save Tens of Thousands of Lives Each Year highlighted that globally, about 345,000 heat-related deaths occurred in 2019 among people aged 65 or older. The report credited air conditioning access with averting approximately 195,000 deaths in this high-risk group, noting Japan's high AC penetration helped prevent an estimated 32,500 heat-related deaths annually.

The debate underscores a tension between environmental concerns and public health needs as Europe confronts rising temperatures.

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