After the hottest day ever recorded in France — a sweltering 39.8 °C on 24 June 2026 — the nation is wracking its political system over how to cope with the impending heat surge. Air‑conditioners, long the subject of heated debate, are now at the centre of a new national discussion.


Low take‑up, high demand


Only one in four French households have a working air‑conditioner, a stark contrast to the 50 % across Spain and Italy and 90 % in the U.S. and Japan. Schools and hospitals—critical infrastructure—are similarly under‑equipped, forcing many institutions to shut down or operate in dangerously hot conditions. The recent closure of thousands of classrooms underscores this crisis.


Tendering itself to the climate emergency, French Green Party leader Marie Tondelier broke a long‑standing taboo, acknowledging the necessity of AC in public buildings. Her statement that “places where we can’t do without it now” marked a shift from her party’s historic opposition to cooling solutions.


Political factions converge


The right‑wing National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, now calls for a nationwide “plan clim’” to equip all schools and hospitals with cooling units, backed by an interest‑free loan worth 20 billion € that would allow 30‑40 million households to install AC. Critics label the plan opportunistic, pointing to the party’s earlier denial of climate realities.


Meanwhile, the ultra‑left CGT union, represented by Olivier Terrien, calls for AC “everywhere,” while Paris‑regional conservative president Valerie Pécresse seeks to retrofit all public transport by 2032. In this climate, opposition to air‑cooling on environmental grounds appears increasingly untenable.


Despite the energy concerns—AC units draw significant electricity and use refrigerants that can leak greenhouse gases—many argue that without such technology, institutions will fail and the risk of heat‑stroke rises. Urban heat islands, exacerbated by the expulsion of hot air from AC units, add two to three extra degrees to city temperatures, further stressing infrastructure.


In a large national debate, Italian greens confront the same tension: grassroots “climatisation” are seen as a short‑term fix that could inadvertently safeguard environmentally‑harmful practices. Yet, as heatwaves reach new levels, the consensus is emerging that AC is inevitable in France’s future weather strategy.


Read more about France’s heatwave impact, heat‑stroke precautions, and coping strategies in related stories.