A prolonged heatwave has swept across Europe, with many countries recording their highest temperatures ever for June.
In France, temperatures exceeded 40°C in many areas this week. Outdoor temperatures in Paris reached as high as 45°C on June 25, and from noon on June 25 to noon on June 26, three-quarters of the country was placed under the highest-level red heat alert.
After breaking its all-time May temperature record, the UK set new June temperature records on three consecutive days—June 24, 25 and 26. Germany recorded a historic high of 41.3°C on June 26, while parts of Spain reached 45°C. Northwestern Switzerland recorded temperatures of 38°C, and the Netherlands issued its first-ever red heat warning.
An estimated 101 million people across Europe are expected to experience temperatures above 35°C. The heatwave has claimed around 15,000 lives, many of them elderly residents living in apartments and nursing homes without air conditioning.
As demand for cooling rises, Chinese-made air conditioners have become a bestseller across Europe. At the same time, air conditioning has sparked an intense public debate in France over whether it should be more widely installed.
Chinese air conditioners sell out across Europe
Amid the heatwave, Chinese-made air conditioners have been selling out at major retailers across Europe.
Many European social media users have commented that "Chinese air conditioners are affordable and work well" and that "Europe should import more." Many households are looking for products that are reasonably priced, easy to install, energy-efficient and suitable for older buildings without requiring major structural modifications. Against this backdrop, products from Chinese manufacturers including Midea, Haier and Gree have gained popularity.
In cities such as Paris, where many historic buildings face restrictions on exterior alterations, installing conventional air conditioners presents a range of challenges. Installation costs can exceed the price of the unit itself, making consumers cautious about purchasing air conditioners.
To address these concerns, Chinese companies such as Midea have introduced customized products for the European market, including portable split air conditioners. These units do not require drilling during installation, while the outdoor unit can be placed on the ground outside or installed by consumers on balconies or window ledges. The indoor unit is movable and offers cooling performance close to that of a traditional split system. As temperatures have soared, the product has become a bestseller and has sold out in parts of Europe.
One Austrian consumer wrote on social media that Midea's Portasplit portable split air conditioner was sold out across much of the European Union. With Vienna expected to reach 38°C within days, the consumer said they had spent two days searching for the unit in Austria. A German consumer also said every available air-conditioning unit had been sold, with Chinese portable split air conditioners out of stock within a 100-kilometer radius.
On June 26, a representative from Midea's air-conditioning business said the company's factory in Shunde is working overtime to increase production of the portable split units. Shipments transported via the China-Europe Railway Express are expected to meet part of the demand during Europe's peak summer season.
Representatives from Gree Electric also said unusually high temperatures in countries including France, Italy and Spain had driven air-conditioner sales in Europe. Actual sales revenue in those markets increased by more than 40% year on year during the first half of the year.
Haier and Hisense are also actively expanding their presence in the European residential air-conditioning market.
Air conditioning becomes a political flashpoint in France
France has a relatively low household air-conditioning penetration rate, with only about 25% of homes equipped with cooling systems. The figure stands at around 50% in Spain and Italy, compared with approximately 90% in the US and Japan.
As France endures record-breaking temperatures, the issue of air-conditioning adoption has become the focus of a heated national debate.
The French government favors a broader climate adaptation strategy, arguing that responses should include improvements to buildings, urban planning, public services and energy systems. Measures such as better insulation, expanded urban green spaces and heat-resistant rooftops are intended to reduce the urban heat-island effect and strengthen society's resilience to extreme heat.
Left-wing political groups share the government's view that air conditioning is not the only solution. Speaking before the National Assembly this week, Minister for Urban Policy and Housing Vincent Jeanbrun said air conditioners are "energy-consuming products" and should be installed "where necessary and feasible, rather than everywhere at any cost."
Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise, argued that widespread air-conditioning use could increase carbon emissions, saying that "installing air conditioners everywhere would only make the damage worse."
The far right, however, argues that opposition to wider air-conditioning use ignores public health concerns. With extreme heat becoming increasingly frequent, it says schools, hospitals and other public facilities urgently need cooling systems, while government building-renovation plans could take years or even more than a decade to complete.
"If I am elected president, I will launch a large-scale air-conditioning program, beginning with hospitals, nursing homes and schools where the most vulnerable people are concentrated," Marine Le Pen, parliamentary leader of the National Rally, declared last week. "Without air conditioning, public services will not be able to function."
The issue of air conditioning has now emerged as an unusual campaign topic ahead of France's 2027 presidential election.
Some commentators say that as Europe becomes the world's fastest-warming region, debates over air conditioning, urban cooling, building retrofits and the energy transition are likely to become increasingly prominent across the continent.
Related News:
Deadly heatwave sweeps Europe, UK issues rare red alert warning of life-threatening temperatures
European heatwave kills at least 18, including two young children, found dead in car in France
Comment