Swiss politician calls for more air conditioning amid rising heatwaves

As Switzerland braces for a significant heatwave with temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius, a national councilor is pushing for greater adoption of air conditioning to protect vulnerable residents.

GLP national councilor Patrick Hässig argues that current cooling methods in Switzerland are inadequate, particularly for the elderly, sick, and children, who are most at risk during extreme heat. He questions the extent to which society can continue to "impose" high temperatures on students, teachers, patients, and residents of retirement homes. Hässig believes that air conditioning, while not a traditional Swiss approach to cooling, is now justifiable from energy, economic, and climate policy perspectives.

Hässig submitted a proposal to pressure the government into action. Unlike in warmer regions or the United States where air conditioners are common, they remain rare in Swiss homes. Hässig, who works in elder care, specifically highlighted the need to protect older and ill individuals, who are most affected by heatwaves according to the Federal Office of Public Health. Data from the summer of 2024 indicated that up to 20 people died daily from heat-related causes, predominantly those over 75 years old.

Studies, such as one cited by the German Medical Journal, have shown the benefits of air conditioning in care facilities. Research in Canada found an 8% higher mortality rate on extremely hot days in nursing homes without air conditioning compared to those with it. In Switzerland, the Riedhof retirement and nursing home in Zurich, which currently only has a ventilation system, is experiencing residents suffering from high temperatures. To mitigate the issue, the facility recently purchased 18 mobile air conditioning units for approximately 17,000 Swiss francs, though managing their exhaust poses a challenge.

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Was wollen wir unseren Schülern, Lehrern, Patienten oder älteren Menschen in Alterszentren noch zumuten?