Europe is resisting air conditioning despite deadly heatwaves: Here's why

Europe's hospitals are already preparing for the next extreme heatwave after record temperatures overwhelmed emergency departments, exposed infrastructure gaps and reignited a continent-wide debate over air conditioning and climate resilience.

Europe's hospitals prepare for a hotter future

As Europe recovers from one of its most intense heatwaves on record, hospitals across the continent are rushing to strengthen their defences before the next spell of extreme temperatures arrives.

At France's Paris-Saclay Hospital, doctors treating patients suffering from heatstroke found themselves scrambling for one unexpected resource—ice. Without an industrial ice machine, staff relied on nearby supermarkets and even a fast-food restaurant to secure enough ice to rapidly cool critically ill patients.

The experience exposed how even modern hospitals can struggle during prolonged periods of extreme heat.

"We thought we were ready. We were not actually," hospital director Cédric Lussiez admitted after the crisis.

Heatwaves becoming the new normal

Doctors say climate change has transformed heatwaves from occasional emergencies into predictable public health crises.

Emergency departments across France reported a sharp rise in patients suffering from dehydration, kidney failure, heart attacks and heatstroke as temperatures climbed above 40°C in several regions.

At Paris-Saclay Hospital alone, doctors described a week-long surge of patients that stretched staff and facilities to their limits.

Health experts now compare summer heatwaves to winter flu seasons, warning that hospitals must permanently prepare for both.

Governments move to strengthen hospitals

In response, the French government has announced a €100 million programme to improve hospital cooling systems and resilience.

Authorities are also purchasing 30,000 air-conditioning units for hospitals and healthcare facilities, with deliveries expected within days.

The World Health Organization has warned that this summer should be seen as a "dress rehearsal" for even hotter years ahead, noting that Europe is warming more than twice as fast as the global average.

Why Europe still resists air conditioning

Despite increasingly severe heatwaves, much of Europe remains reluctant to embrace widespread air conditioning.

Unlike countries such as the United States, where around 90% of homes have AC, only about one in five European households use cooling systems.

Several factors explain this:

• Many buildings were designed to retain heat during cold winters rather than release it in summer.
• Historic cities such as Paris, Rome and London restrict visible outdoor AC units to preserve centuries-old architecture.
• Strict noise regulations often make installations difficult in apartment buildings.
• High electricity prices make running air conditioners expensive.
• Environmental concerns have led policymakers to favour passive cooling methods such as insulation, shutters, urban trees and natural ventilation over widespread AC use.

Climate change is changing the debate

The latest heatwave has intensified calls for Europe to rethink its approach.

Hospitals, schools and transport networks struggled as roads softened, railway tracks buckled and power grids came under pressure.

While some politicians now argue that expanding air conditioning is essential to protect public health, climate experts continue to advocate a balanced approach that combines better building design with targeted use of cooling technology.

Why Europe faces a unique challenge

Europe's infrastructure was largely built for a much cooler climate, when temperatures above 40°C were extremely rare. Today, rising global temperatures are exposing the limits of buildings, transport systems and hospitals that were never designed for such prolonged heat.

The latest crisis highlights a growing reality: adapting to climate change is no longer a future challenge but an urgent necessity. As scientists warn that extreme heat will become more frequent, Europe faces difficult choices over how to protect public health while meeting its long-term climate goals.