Air Conditioning Is Not a Luxury, It Is a Necessity

As Europe swelters through record heat waves, air conditioning remains scarce and often banned, despite its proven ability to save lives. While AC has cut heat-related deaths in the US by 75%, European governments impose permits, noise rules, and even removal orders, driven by fears of energy waste and health risks that modern research refutes. With over 175,000 Europeans dying from heat annually, this article argues that treating AC as an indulgence is a deadly mistake.