It’s August, and we are officially in the dog days of summer. Large swaths of the country are broiling under triple digit temperatures, and high humidity levels are making it feel even hotter. Even sunset does not always bring relief, as temperatures in some areas stay stubbornly in the 80s overnight. In other words, it’s ghastly out there. Which is why I am extremely grateful for air conditioning, and I wish everyone in the world could benefit from having it.
That sentiment runs counter to some who believe that the benefits of air conditioning may not outweigh the harm it is causing the planet. Even the pope is not a fan of air conditioning, noting that, “People may well have a growing ecological sensitivity, but it has not succeeded in changing their harmful habits of consumption…A simple example is the increasing use and power of air conditioning. The markets, which immediately benefit from sales, stimulate ever-greater demand. An outsider looking at our world would be amazed at such behavior, which at times appears self-destructive.”