As Europe endures a record heat wave with temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius, controversy is growing in Britain, where residents have even been ordered to remove air conditioners installed in their homes.
"Open Windows and Use Fans First": Removal Orders Issued
According to The Telegraph and GB News on Sunday, some local councils in London have ordered the removal of air conditioners installed in homes within conservation areas and are conducting enforcement.
The basis is London's "Cooling Hierarchy" policy. British local governments are restricting the use of air conditioners under their Net Zero policy. They permit active cooling, such as air conditioners, only after so-called "passive cooling" measures — opening windows, installing awnings, natural ventilation and using fans — have all been attempted.
In one case, a resident living in Camden, north London, received notice to remove two air conditioners installed in the home. A council official determined that the air conditioner installation was not justified, citing reasons including the absence of ceiling fans.
Authorities recommended ventilating by opening windows and balcony doors, but when the resident raised concerns about crime risk, officials reportedly responded that "the windows can be closed at night." The resident was only allowed to use the air conditioners after proving that eco-friendly equipment such as solar panels had been installed in the building.
In response, British Conservative Party figures criticized the policy as "keeping Britain in the dark ages."
Britain does not require building permits for air conditioner installation in ordinary homes, but separate permits are needed in conservation areas of historical and architectural value. London currently has 28 designated conservation areas.
Net Zero Debate Grows Amid Heat Wave
The controversy is drawing greater attention as it coincides with a time when all of Europe is experiencing a record heat wave.
Recently, the temperature in Germany's Brandenburg state soared to 41.7 degrees, while the Czech Republic and Poland recorded 41.1 degrees and 40.5 degrees, respectively. Britain has also suffered damage, including disruptions to train services due to the heat.
Claire Coutinho, the former British energy secretary, criticized the move as "completely absurd," saying that "Britain needs to break away from a pessimistic Net Zero mindset that prevents it from enjoying even the conveniences of modern civilization that are taken for granted in other countries."
In contrast, Camden Council said it had "reduced local carbon emissions by 52% since 2019," and stated that "the principle is to prioritize low-energy cooling methods such as awning installation, improved insulation performance and natural ventilation over air conditioners."
It added that "the windows at Chalcot Estate have all been replaced with products that allow sufficient ventilation while reducing overheating."
1,300 Heat Wave Deaths: Warning of a "Silent Killer"
As the record heat wave continues, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that excess deaths related to the heat in Europe have surpassed 1,300 since the 21st of last month. Excess deaths refer to additional deaths beyond those normally occurring during the same period.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that "heat stress is a 'silent killer,'" and that "homes, schools and workplaces in Europe were not designed to withstand heat waves like the current one." He added that "heat waves that used to appear once in a generation are now repeating almost every year," emphasizing the need to respond to climate change and strengthen health systems.
France has also seen successive heat wave damage. The French public health agency announced that approximately 1,000 excess deaths occurred between the 24th and 26th of last month, more than in an average year. Some 85% of the deaths were among the elderly aged 65 or older, with damage concentrated in areas where red heat alerts had been issued.
As the heat wave caused a surge in hospital emergency patients, the city of Paris banned drinking in public places over the weekend and postponed its Pride march. The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum also closed early. Record-high temperatures were recorded in Germany, the Czech Republic and Denmark, and heat wave damage is spreading across Europe, with some nuclear power output reduced in Hungary and highways and railways deformed.
