Europe is getting hotter. That is not ideology. It is the reality millions of Europeans are experiencing this summer as schools close, hospitals come under pressure and sleepless nights become the norm.
Yet instead of asking how Europe should adapt to a changing climate, some politicians have found another opportunity to wage a stale culture war. Their latest target is air conditioning.
Apparently, the choice is simple. You can support climate action and the EU Green Deal, or you can keep your family cool. You can fight climate change, or you can survive it.
It is an argument designed to divide. And it is completely false.
Nobody should feel guilty for wanting relief from extreme heat. Air conditioning saves lives. For elderly people, hospital patients and those living in poorly insulated homes, it is increasingly becoming a public health necessity rather than a luxury. Early estimates suggest that more than 1,300 people may have died prematurely during the latest heatwave alone.
