As summer temperatures soar, so too does the demand for air conditioning (AC) in Europe. The IEA predicts that by 2050, two-thirds of households could own an AC unit.
The political divide over AC installation is widening. Far-right figures like Marine Le Pen see it as a solution to heatwaves, while left-leaning politicians argue it benefits the wealthy and hampers Europe's climate goals.
Air conditioning isn't just about comfort; it's essential for productivity and health. It helps adults stay productive in extreme heat and children focus in poorly ventilated schools. Research suggests AC could have prevented nearly 200,000 premature deaths among people over 65 in 2019 alone.
Europe is warming faster than any other continent, with countries like the UK, Switzerland, Norway, and Finland facing increasingly frequent heatwaves. Nicole Miranda's research at Oxford University indicates that these nations could see significant increases in cooling demand if global temperatures rise by just 2°C above preindustrial levels.
