Commentary: Should Western countries embrace air-con like Singapore amid heatwaves?

As heatwaves grip Europe and North America, a commentary questions whether Western countries should embrace air-conditioning as Singapore has. The city-state's founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, recognized cooling as essential for development in the tropics, enabling productive work and modern administration. However, applying this lesson to temperate climates facing unprecedented heatwaves presents a complex challenge. In countries like France, Germany, and the UK, resistance to air-conditioning is high due to strict building codes and environmental worries. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that heat extremes will become more frequent and intense with global warming. This raises critical questions about the adaptability of buildings, infrastructure, and institutions in temperate regions. Much of Europe's infrastructure, built for cold protection, can trap heat, exacerbating the urban heat island effect. Rail lines, power systems, and hospitals risk failure under extreme temperatures. Air-conditioning emerges as a vital tool for climate adaptation, saving lives and maintaining essential services. Yet, it introduces a significant equity issue: who gets cooled? Wealthier households can afford thermal safety, creating a 'cooling divide' for poorer populations facing hotter homes and greater health risks. Singapore offers a lesson not in perfected cooling – its spaces are often overcooled – but in managing heat as a system. Its strength lies in a portfolio of responses that address heat as a climate risk, integrating various strategies to ensure resilience.