The mercury hit 46°C in southern France on Tuesday, the highest temperature ever recorded in the country. As the French government scrambled to open cooling centres and distribute water, the heatwave reignited a political debate that has long simmered beneath the surface: who can afford to keep cool?
In the UK, where less than 5% of homes have air conditioning, the question of heat resilience has become a matter of social justice. The elderly, the sick, and low-income families are most vulnerable when temperatures soar. Yet the cost of installing and running air conditioning units puts them out of reach for many.
"It's a luxury we can't afford," said Margaret Thompson, 72, from Bolton. She relies on a fan and cold flannels to get through the night. "The fan just blows hot air around. I've had to sleep downstairs where it's cooler."
Margaret's story is not unique. The Office for National Statistics has warned that heat-related deaths could triple by 2050 without action. The poorest households are least likely to have cooling systems, yet they are often in the most poorly insulated homes.
Meanwhile, the French government has pledged subsidies for low-income households to install air conditioning. The move came after trade unions called for heatwaves to be classified as a health and safety risk, forcing employers to provide cool spaces for workers.
But the climate activists are up in arms. The International Energy Agency has warned that widespread air conditioning could increase global energy demand by 40% by 2030, exacerbating the very problem that causes heatwaves. It is a classic policy bind.
In the UK, the government has been accused of being reactive rather than proactive. The heatwave plan was last updated in 2018. The Health and Safety Executive says employers have a duty to keep staff cool, but enforcement is weak. "We need a national strategy for heat resilience that includes rent controls to ensure affordable cooling and binding regulations on housing standards," said Sarah Owen, MP for Luton North.
The stakes are high. The Trades Union Congress is threatening to ballot for 'heat strike' rights if workers are forced to labour in dangerously hot conditions. "No one should have to choose between their health and their wage," said Frances O'Grady, TUC General Secretary.
As the heatwave grips the north of England, with temperatures set to hit 35°C in Manchester, the debate over air conditioning looks set to intensify. For many, the question is no longer about comfort but survival. And that cuts to the very heart of the cost of living crisis.
The price of bread is already up 15% this year. The cost of a cool home is now the new frontier of inequality.
