The case for making air conditioning normal - even in Europe

Key Points:

• Europe has low air conditioning (AC) adoption, with only about 20% of households equipped, compared to 90% in the US, partly due to cultural resistance viewing AC as maladaptation rather than a necessary adaptation to heat.
• Europe faces severe heat-related mortality, with over 61,000 deaths in 2022 and increasing heat waves driven by climate change, making adaptation measures like AC essential for survival.
• Despite concerns about AC's energy use and carbon emissions, studies show that expanding AC use in Europe would minimally impact overall emissions, especially as the EU grid becomes greener with nearly half of electricity from renewables.
• Efficient and properly implemented AC systems can reduce urban heat risks without exacerbating heat island effects, contrasting with inefficient units often used due to regulatory and infrastructural barriers in Europe.
• The politicization of AC in Europe risks hindering rational discussion and adoption; framing AC as a normal, life-saving technology rather than a political symbol is crucial for effective adaptation to rising temperatures.