The intense heatwave that broiled much of Europe has led most nations on the continent to declare record-breaking temperatures not seen in at least a century.
However, households across Europe, particularly in France, remain at the mercy of the heat, as the use of air conditioning remains taboo for many Europeans, who cite its climate impacts.
AC becoming necessary
France has been a leading opposition to using air conditioners (ACs).
Only 25% of households and infrastructure in the country have ACs, with many relying on natural breeze passing through window stills as part of France’s “la clim” (climatisation) goal.
A huge difference compared to their counterparts in the United States, where 90% of homes are equipped with the infamous AC.
But the recent heatwave that baked the nation has raised questions about whether putting air conditioning in houses in France, and potentially in Europe, has become a necessity, with the head of the French Ecologists Party, Marine Tondelier, admitting that installing ACs would soon be needed in schools and hospitals.
Such a call was initially rallied by Marine Le Pen of the National Rally, emphasising the need for subsidised ACs throughout France as heatwaves have become more intense and fatal.
The French health ministry said it has recorded at least 1,000 excess deaths compared to what was expected, all linked to the heatwave.
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The argument for using air conditioners
Many have raised the disadvantages of using ACs in homes and public spaces, saying that it could worsen climate change and intensify future unpredictable and unusual weather phenomena.
Experts said that installing ACs in most buildings would contribute to an increase in temperature in local areas, especially in urbanised regions, as such appliances release heat from their bodies upon their use.
They added that ACs are also notorious for using cooling fluid that, when evaporated, could contribute to the already high levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.
Moreover, ACs are seen to be drivers of fossil fuel usage, an energy source that France is trying its best to remove from its system as part of its commitment to fighting climate change.
The Green movement in France has retained its stance against the use of ACs, saying that it would be the worst solution to climate change, despite the ongoing dilemma between comfort and sustainability.
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What does the EU have to say?
The European Union (EU) has remained mum on taking sides on whether air conditioning systems should be welcomed in its member states.
It said that the case in France is not in the interest of the EU bloc to “micromanage” whether to mandate households to use ACs, but urged governments to implement effective and efficient ways to make European lives convenient against climate change.
The issue of potentially increased usage of ACs in European households has been among the early setbacks that the EU has faced as it pushes its Green Deal or climate neutrality by 2050, with governments struggling to keep up with the demand for fossil fuels to power their nations.
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Levi Mora 
Phoebe Pang 
Wendellyn Mateo