Summer has arrived early across Europe, with record-breaking temperatures already recorded in May. Paris hit 37°C, London reached 34.8°C, and Dublin saw an unprecedented 30.5°C. Yet the vast majority of EU citizens remain unprepared for the heat.
A new report from the European Environment Agency, titled Overheated and Underprepared, finds that 68% of EU households do not have air conditioning or fan systems. More troubling, 38% of respondents say they simply cannot afford to install cooling equipment.
Southern Europe hit hardest
The affordability gap is most acute in the continent's hottest regions. In France, 42% of people say they cannot afford AC; in Greece, 46%; in Portugal, 45%. Italy (37%), Spain (34%), and Romania (39%) also report high numbers. This is especially concerning given that over a quarter of EU citizens are over 65, with the oldest populations concentrated in Italy, Portugal, and Greece.
At the other end of the spectrum, Malta (8.5%), Luxembourg (18%), and Ireland (20%) report the fewest affordability issues. These countries benefit from either cooler climates or higher average incomes.
Passive cooling measures, such as shutters, awnings, and external shading, are also lacking. In Spain, 61% of homes lack such features; in Portugal, 59%; in Italy, 57%; and in Cyprus, 51%. This leaves many residents with few options beyond enduring the heat.
Heat is Europe's top climate worry
Heatwaves have overtaken floods, fires, and water scarcity as the primary climate concern for EU citizens. According to the report, 85% of Europeans are worried about extreme temperatures, compared to 82.5% for fires and 80% for floods. In Cyprus, 75% say they are very or quite worried; in Greece, 71%; in Malta, 70%.
Around half of EU respondents already feel too hot at home (50%) and at work (47%), while 61% report discomfort in their neighbourhoods. The psychological toll is mounting as summers grow longer and more intense.
Public cooling remains rare
Access to air-conditioned public spaces is uneven. Only 15% of Italians and 7% of Germans report using cooling centres or cooled public buildings. In contrast, around 40% of residents in Greece, Malta, and Romania benefit from such facilities. This disparity leaves millions vulnerable during peak heatwaves.
Tree planting, a cheaper and eco-friendly alternative, is being implemented around 36% of EU residents. Hungary leads with 59% reporting local tree-planting initiatives, while Greece lags at just 22% — the third lowest in the bloc.
Adjusting work or school schedules during heatwaves is another measure, but only 15% of EU citizens have observed it. Cyprus (39%) is the most proactive, while Portugal (8%) is the least. Heatwave alerts — via phone, text, or media — are more common, reported by 57% of respondents.
As Europe braces for what could be another summer of extremes, the gap between those who can afford to stay cool and those who cannot is widening. For millions across the continent, the choice is not between comfort and cost, but between health and survival.
