As Europe endures increasingly severe heatwaves, European Commission officials are privately conceding that air conditioning has become a necessary tool—but they insist it cannot be the sole answer to the continent's cooling needs. In conversations with Euronews, officials outlined a forthcoming climate adaptation strategy that prioritises prevention and resilience over disaster recovery.
Balancing Necessity and Sustainability
One EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity after a brutal heatwave exposed Europe's lack of preparedness, stated: "Air conditioning is definitely one of the tools and a very necessary tool. In some cases, insulation or other passive strategies are not sufficient." However, the official cautioned that relying exclusively on air conditioning would drive up electricity consumption, require additional power generation, and leave households facing higher energy bills, particularly given today's high electricity prices.
The official also noted that widespread installation of air conditioners can worsen the urban "heat island" effect through waste heat, reinforcing the need for green spaces, shading, building orientation, and better city design. The Commission's strategy, due in the fourth quarter of 2026, will seek to shift governments away from disaster recovery towards prevention and resilience.
Efficiency and Regulation
EU officials acknowledge that portable air conditioners remain popular because they require no installation, but warned they are considerably less energy-efficient than fixed systems. Modern fixed units are "highly efficient," often operating as reversible heat pumps that can help decarbonise heating as well as provide cooling. EU energy-labelling and eco-design rules have steadily improved their efficiency since 2002, with further regulatory updates planned.
However, the Commission noted that installation of air conditioning is typically regulated at regional or local level. "You need urban premises to install a solar shading façade or to install air conditioning. And member states, regions, and municipalities really need flexibility and to decide the approach that works best for them," the EU official said.
Political Perspectives
Veteran lawmaker Pascal Canfin (France/Renew Europe) described reducing the climate adaptation debate to "for or against air conditioning" as "simplistic." He told Euronews: "I believe schools and hospitals should be air-conditioned so that children, elderly people, or people who are ill aren't left alone to face heat that has become dangerous. But air conditioning isn't the answer to everything." Canfin noted that air conditioning alone cannot solve infrastructure vulnerability or declining agricultural yields, adding that it is "ineffective to systematically reject every technological adaptation solution as it is to rely on a single miracle fix."
Terry Reintke, co-president of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, said the "absolute priority" is to save lives, protect the most vulnerable, and those without access to cooling. "We need to reimagine our urban spaces: planting trees, restoring wetlands, and creating cooling zones with water features and green corridors. Nature-based solutions are not just aesthetic, they are life-saving infrastructure," Reintke told Euronews. The German lawmaker also described the latest heatwave as a "wake-up call to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels," which she said are the root cause of this escalating danger.
For a deeper look at how Europe's heatwave is exposing class divides over cooling access, see our analysis here. And for lessons from other regions on heat adaptation, read this piece.
The Commission's holistic approach aims to combine passive and efficient cooling technologies, prioritising cooler buildings and cities through design, insulation, and passive measures, while using efficient air conditioning where it is genuinely needed. As the strategy takes shape, the debate over air conditioning in Europe is far from settled—but Brussels is clear that it should not be the main answer.
