Europe Records Over 1,300 Heat-Related Deaths Since June 21 as Air-Conditioning Use Remains Low

Europe has recorded more than 1,300 excess heat-related deaths since June 21, according to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. France attributed roughly 1,000 deaths to record-breaking heat last week, with most involving elderly people.

The continent registers the highest number of heat-related deaths per capita even though it experiences fewer hot days than many other regions.

Only about 20 percent of European homes have air conditioning, compared with roughly 90 percent of homes in the United States. A 2007 study found that air conditioning can reduce heat-related deaths by 75 percent. Italy reports higher adoption, with 56 percent of homes equipped as of 2024, and accounts for roughly one-third of the European Union’s electricity consumption for air conditioning.

@zerohedge reported that Italian officials have distributed wearable devices in Rome to monitor elderly residents during extreme heat. In France, a recent survey found that one in six respondents said they would rather endure the heat than increase air conditioning use for environmental reasons.

Ine Vandecasteele, an urban adaptation expert with the European Environment Agency, said widespread air conditioning should not be the solution.

“My honest response is I don’t think that should be the solution anywhere,” she told CBS News. She added that while it can provide short-term help for vulnerable people, installing more units emits additional heat and increases the speed of warming. Vandecasteele said the approach prioritizes future generations over immediate comfort.