Europe’s ongoing aversion to air conditioning has dire consequences. According to a recent study, there were over 20,000 heat-related deaths during a period of extreme temperatures the week before last. France accounted for more than 2,000 of these excess deaths. Belgium reported 1,222 fatalities. The Netherlands experienced 480 losses.
People in Paris sought relief by swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin, illustrating the desperate measures taken to stay cool. The resistance to air conditioning in Europe is being increasingly recognized as a significant threat to public health during heatwaves.