Europe must widen access to efficient cooling to protect health and manage heat-driven electricity demand

# What happened

Environment (EPEE) responded to the EU president's state of the union speech, which pushed for electrifying heating and pledged a new European Heatwave Plan. The EU president said the intention is to double electricity's share of final energy use by 2040 and to capitalise on energy-efficient cooling as part of adaptation technology strengths.

# Why EPEE raised the issue now

EPEE says the speech was a "rare moment" where electrification of heating and efficient cooling were named together. Two days before the speech EPEE called on policymakers to recognise access to efficient air conditioning and heat-pump technology as an essential public-health and climate-adaptation measure.

# The public-health evidence cited

EPEE cited figures published in The Lancet showing about 489,000 heat-related deaths globally each year between 2000 and 2019. Europe accounted for 36% of those deaths while representing under 10% of the world's population. In a single recent summer—2022—Europe saw an estimated 61,672 heat-related excess deaths.

A separate Lancet estimate referenced by EPEE finds that by the early 2020s air conditioning was preventing roughly 190,000 deaths per year among people aged 65 and over. EPEE's director general, Russell Patten, described extreme heat as a serious and growing public-health risk that disproportionately affects older people and those with existing health conditions.

# Current access and gaps

EPEE notes that access to cooling in Europe remains limited: about 23% of European households have an air conditioning unit. That low penetration leaves many people exposed during heatwaves, especially in public and communal settings such as schools and hospitals.

# EPEE's recommended strategy

EPEE calls for cooling to be fully integrated into EU and national heat-health action plans and proposes a balanced strategy consisting of:

• Efficient air conditioning and reversible heat pumps to provide active cooling and heating where needed.
• Passive cooling measures, including improved insulation, shading, and natural ventilation, to reduce demand.
• Targeted support for vulnerable facilities and people, including hospitals, schools, and at-risk citizens.
• Investments in smart electricity grids, storage, and demand-response systems to manage peak electricity demand during heatwaves.

The organisation stresses that these elements must be combined so cooling is safe, sustainable, and affordable for those who need it most.

# How this links to EU energy goals

The EU president's commitment to doubling electricity's share of final energy by 2040 implies faster electrification of heating and cooling. EPEE frames efficient cooling and reversible heat pumps as compatible with that electrification aim, provided the grid and demand-side systems are upgraded to handle peak loads during extreme heat events.

# Bottom line

EPEE wants policymakers to treat access to efficient cooling as a core part of public-health and climate adaptation planning. The organisation urges combining technological solutions with passive building measures and grid upgrades, while prioritising support for the most vulnerable locations and populations.