The ongoing heatwave in France, which began on August 8, 2025, has sparked discussions about the rising electricity consumption and carbon footprint associated with air conditioning.

As temperatures continue to rise, the reliance on air conditioning in French homes is expected to increase significantly, with predictions suggesting that by 2050, half of all households will have air conditioning installed.

Research indicates that the growing use of air conditioning could exacerbate urban heat islands, a phenomenon where urban areas become significantly warmer than their rural surroundings.

Economist Vincent Viguié notes that while the heat emissions from air conditioning are less significant compared to other urban heat sources, they still pose considerable environmental concerns that vary across different city areas.

Critics of air conditioning argue that it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and worsens urban heat islands by releasing warm air outdoors, while supporters often challenge these claims.

The use of refrigerants in air conditioning, particularly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), raises serious environmental concerns due to their high global warming potential and the leaks that occur during their lifecycle.

To mitigate the environmental impact, it is crucial to choose energy-efficient air conditioning units, ideally those labeled A+++, which can help reduce electricity consumption and pollution.

Currently, air conditioning accounts for about 1% of France's total greenhouse gas emissions, with significant contributions stemming from the manufacturing process and refrigerant leaks.

As of 2020, approximately 25% of French households had air conditioning, and sales of these units surged during heatwaves, reflecting a growing trend in consumer behavior.

The French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe) forecasts that electricity consumption from air conditioning could escalate to between 6 TWh and 27 TWh by 2050, depending on the implementation of energy-saving measures.

Despite the increasing popularity of air conditioning, nearly 60% of the French population would rather endure heat than install air conditioning, citing environmental concerns as a significant factor.

The cyclical nature of urban heat islands and air conditioning demand suggests that as cities heat up, the reliance on air conditioning will increase, potentially leading to a worsening climate scenario in urban areas like Paris.