As Europe reels under increasingly intense heat waves with temperatures crossing 40 degrees, one question continues to puzzle visitors from warmer parts of the world -- Why are so many homes, schools and even hospitals still without air conditioning?
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A report by The Wall Street Journal explores the continent's long-standing aversion to ACs, tracing it to everything from climate goals and heritage preservation to noise complaints and urban planning.
The question has gained urgency as the latest heatwave pushes European infrastructure to its limits. Roads have melted, tram tracks have buckled, train services have been disrupted, power grids have come under strain and hospitals have struggled to cope, while record-breaking temperatures have swept across several countries. Yet, despite the worsening climate, Europe's relationship with air conditioning remains deeply complicated.
'Don't want to look like America'
For many European planners, rows of outdoor AC units are seen as visually unappealing and incompatible with historic neighbourhoods.
"The goal isn't to be like some Italian, Brazilian, or American cities where you have entire rows, entire walls of convectors outside buildings that make an unbearable racket, releasing heat and toxic fumes," the Wall Street Journal quoted Audrey Pulvar, deputy mayor of Paris saying.
In cities such as Paris, visible air-conditioning units can be rejected if they spoil the iconic limestone façades of Haussmann-era buildings.
'Too noisy'
In parts of Europe, installing an air conditioner isn't simply a homeowner's decision.
Apartment residents may need approval from neighbours, while local authorities can also intervene over planning rules, energy targets or noise concerns.
According to the report, French law allows building associations to object if an AC unit exceeds strict noise limits, roughly equivalent to the sound of a light breeze. Lawyer Christophe Sanson, who specialises in noise disputes, told the newspaper his firm now handles more than 100 cases involving air-conditioning systems.
"It's a sound that can penetrate concrete, that is extremely powerful and can be deeply disturbing," he said.
32-year-old Luca Funaro, who has a rare genetic illness, has spent the past two years trying to get permission to install an air-conditioning unit in the courtyard of his apartment building in Paris's Marais district. His neighbours have repeatedly objected, saying the unit would be too noisy.
