Air conditioning is vital in a warming world — but both Europe and America are getting it wrong
By
Catherine Rampell
Summary
The article argues that air conditioning is essential for human well-being in a warming world, but both Europe and the U.S. handle it poorly — Europe makes it too hard to install A/C, while the U.S. makes it too hard to power it with clean energy. It examines the tension between cooling needs and climate goals, advocating for better policy, smarter technology, and cleaner energy to make air conditioning sustainable and accessible.
Source
bskyAir conditioning is vital in a warming world — but both Europe and America are getting it wrongthebulwark.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledFrance alone recorded a thousand excess deaths over a four-day period, with 85 percent of the deaths occurring among the elderly population.
Europe makes it too hard to install A/C. But the U.S. makes it too hard to power A/C with clean energy.
This may be the hottest summer you remember. And yet—unfortunately for our planet—it may still be the coolest summer for some time.
You might also wanna read
Why Europeans should embrace air-conditioning in a green energy era
The article discusses the cultural divide between Americans and Europeans regarding air-conditioning usage. Europeans find American building
economist.com·10d agoWhy Europeans should embrace air-conditioning in a green energy era
The article discusses the cultural divide between Americans and Europeans regarding air-conditioning usage. Europeans find American building
economist.com·10d ago
Europe's Air Conditioning Gap: A Heat Wave Exposes Infrastructure Shortcomings
The author expresses a strong appreciation for air conditioning, noting how ubiquitous it is in the United States compared to Europe, where
joshbarro.com·5d ago
Europe's resistance to air conditioning is costing thousands of lives as heatwaves intensify
Europe is warming at ~0.5°C per decade since the 1980s, with heat stress days rising sharply. The article argues that Europe's cultural and
rogerpielkejr.substack.com·8d ago
Europe's Resistance to Air Conditioning Technology
The article argues against Europe's resistance to air conditioning, using an anecdote about a Pacific island tribesman's lack of reaction to
noahpinion.blog·10mo agoEurope's Resistance to Air Conditioning Technology
The article argues against Europe's resistance to air conditioning, using an anecdote about a Pacific island tribesman's lack of reaction to
noahpinion.blog·10mo ago
The Environmental Challenge of Global Air Conditioning Demand
The article examines the growing global dependence on air conditioning as temperatures rise, highlighting the environmental paradox where in
Dezeen·10mo ago
Britain's lack of air conditioning exposes failures in building design and policy
The article argues that Britain is ill-equipped to handle heatwaves due to poor building design, state failure, and Net Zero ideology. It co
spiked-online.com·8d ago
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.