European officials are calling for change, but not the kind that may seem obvious — like air conditioning. A 2007 study found that air conditioning can cut heat-related deaths by 75%, but only about 20% of Europeans have air conditioning in their homes. In the U.S., it’s about 90%.

Environmental Concerns

Ine Vandecasteele, an urban adaptation expert with the European Environment Agency, told CBS News that installing more air conditioning actually emits more heat into the environment, which can increase the speed of warming. It’s also more expensive, with energy prices being much higher in Europe than in the U.S.

European governments have instead funded other ways to cool historic and densely populated cities, such as public cooling stations. In Rome, wearable technology is distributed to monitor the elderly, who are by far the most at risk in the increasing heat.

Italy’s Approach

Italy has also embraced air conditioning more than other European nations. About 56% of all homes in Italy had air conditioning as of 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics, and the country accounts for one-third of all electricity use on air conditioning in the European Union, according to EU data.

Original reporting: KTSA News/Talk (San Antonio) — read the source article.