As heat waves batter Europe, the need (or not) for air-conditioning has become part of the political tug of war in France between the right and the left.

Across Europe, record-high temperatures are driving a surge in air conditioning adoption, straining power grids designed for milder climates. Governments face the challenge of balancing cooling needs with emissions reduction and grid stability.

A heat wave gripping parts of Europe sent temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) in southern France and the Western Balkans on Monday, fueling wildfires, triggering top-level weather alerts and forcing evacuations in several countries across what scientists warn is the world’s fastest-warming continent.