Southern Europe Battles Deadly Wildfires Amid Record Heatwave As Debate Over A/C Heats Up
Southern Europe is battling major wildfires fueled by historic heat, including in countries like France, Spain, Portugal, and Greece — as Europe is on track for its worst wildfire season on record.
More than 1 million acres have burned across the European Union so far this year — more than double the amount during the same period in 2024, according to new data. Thousands of people have been evacuated, and dozens of homes have been destroyed.
Temperatures have soared above 100°F across the continent in recent days. Europe has become the fastest-warming continent, where temperatures are rising at roughly twice the global average, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
That heat might be sparking a cultural change: Europeans are now debating whether to embrace air conditioning — once seen as an American luxury.
THE POLITICS OF IT
In France, far-right leader Marine Le Pen has proposed a nationwide A/C rollout in schools and hospitals. More than 1,000 French schools were forced to partially or fully close in early July due to high temperatures and a lack of cooling. In the U.K., A/C advocates see adoption as a boost to health, productivity, and housing quality; while critics are wary of higher energy use and regulatory overhaul.
Inside the debate: Many Europeans have long viewed air conditioning as wasteful or harmful, warning of “thermal shock”-induced nausea or loss of consciousness when indoor temperatures are cooled more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit below the outdoor temperature — far less of a difference than what many in the U.S. are accustomed to.
Public health officials say access to cooling is essential to prevent heat-related deaths — the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the world — as temperatures continue to rise.