Air Conditioning

Climate

Inside the underground network cooling Europe without using air con

“District cooling offers clear benefits for cities aiming to safeguard public health and cut emissions.”

08/07/2026

Europe News

EU pivots from climate mitigation to adaptation in bid to beat heat

After a brutal heatwave killed 1,300 people in western Europe, the European Commission has pledged to step up climate adaptation efforts – but part of the burden was shifted to local and regional governments.

03/07/2026

Europe News

Brussels supports air conditioning—but not as the main answer

Cooling Europe's cities will require a combination of measures, with air conditioning serving as just one element of a broader climate adaptation strategy, one EU official said.

02/07/2026

The Ring

MEPs clash in The Ring over the way forward after Europe's heat dome

A record-breaking heatwave is baking Europe - have politicians failed to protect citizens? Is air-conditioning the answer? In this edition, Benedetta Scuderi (Greens) and Andrea Wechsler (EPP) talk about the political consequences of a (failed?) climate policy.

01/07/2026

Europe News

As Europe swelters, the Green Deal faces its summer test

As Europeans anxiously await a second heatwave in less than two weeks, access to air conditioning has become a powerful symbol of the tensions between social fairness and the European Union's climate and energy ambitions.

30/06/2026

Economy

How Europe's growing need for cooling is reshaping electricity demand

Europe's June heatwave has driven up electricity demand and wholesale power prices across the continent, highlighting the growing impact of cooling needs on electricity systems.

30/06/2026

Europe News

Neither pro nor con: EU declines to take stand on AC amid heatwave

As air conditioning becomes the subject of political debates, the European Commission is treading carefully to maintain a neutral stance.

29/06/2026

Europe News

Keeping cool has become Europe's latest climate class war

As Europe accelerates its green transition, the debate over air conditioning has become emblematic of a broader challenge. Climate policy is no longer judged solely by its environmental ambitions, but also by whether it can reduce emissions without deepening social inequalities.

29/06/2026