More from the article ...

... A heat wave that hit Western Europe in June and July spurred a run on air conditioners in appliance stores across the region. The scorching temperatures came unusually early, before many Europeans had a chance to decamp to the beach for summer vacation, exposing vulnerabilities in the cities where most people live. More than 1,000 French schools closed partially or completely because they lacked air conditioning.

Criticism quickly arose from politicians on the right who said authorities have left the continent woefully under-air conditioned. Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Rally party, proposed a major campaign to install air conditioning in schools, hospitals and other institutions. In the U.K., the Conservatives urged London's Labour Party mayor to eliminate rules that restrict how air conditioning can be included in new housing. In Spain, the far-right Vox party has been highlighting air-conditioning breakdowns to criticize the country's establishment parties.

"Public services are unable to function due to a lack of air conditioning, unlike dozens of countries around the world," Le Pen said. "The government is still out of touch." ...

Yeah, I remember, back when I had traveled to The Netherlands quarterly on business. I stayed (compliments of, and specified by, my company) in a four-star hotel in Rotterdam.

Back in 2005, those hotel rooms were not air-conditioned.

During one visit, the air temperature was in the mid-90's. Something that Rotterdam had not seen before.

Needless to say, my hotel room was brutally hot.

In subsequent visits to that hotel a couple years later, I noticed the hotel was replacing all its old windows with new double-pane windows and was installing an air-conditioning system.

Yeah, Europe does not seem to be accustomed to hot weather.

And, fwiw, I found the folk of The Netherlands to be an awesome people. So happy. Even when I was taken into the countryside by my Dutch business associates.

Everybody seemed to be so happy.