European Politicians Split Over Air Conditioning During Heat Wave

Roughly 1,000 excess deaths occurred in France between Wednesday and Saturday during a heat wave that produced the country's highest recorded temperatures, according to Santé Publique France. The agency said 85 percent of the dead were aged 65 or older and that death rates rose across all age groups compared with the previous two months.

The heat wave has made air conditioning a partisan issue in several European countries. The leader of Britain's Conservative Party again supported the country's fossil fuel industry during cool weather in Scotland, while temperatures in southern England and Wales later reached nearly 100 degrees.

Schools closed, trains were delayed or canceled, and some hospitals postponed elective procedures in Britain. The opening session of London Climate Action Week was canceled after the Met Office issued a red warning. Marine Le Pen said she would launch a major air-conditioning equipment plan if her party gained power.

The head of France's Green party instead recommended greening cities and improving building energy efficiency. A conservative newspaper defended air conditioning, stating it limits learning, reduces working hours, and strains hospitals. A left-leaning daily called the technology an environmental aberration that increases street heat and energy use.

In Belgium, officials in Ghent advised residents to use fans and plant trees rather than install air conditioning. A right-wing member of the Flemish Parliament called the advice absurd and asked how many deaths such guidance might cause.

Regulatory and cultural obstacles also limit air-conditioning adoption. Historical preservation laws, noise rules, and aesthetic restrictions have blocked installations in Britain, according to the Consumer Choice Center. Portofino police enforced rules against illegal units in 2024 after units were reported by residents.