Tyler Brûlé argues for air conditioning to boost Europe's economy and productivity

In a Monocle column, Tyler Brûlé argues that Europe's economic sluggishness is linked to insufficient air conditioning during increasingly hot summers. He notes record-breaking temperatures across Europe have caused school closures, alcohol bans, and heat-related deaths, including drownings in France. Brûlé criticizes policymakers and environmentalists who oppose AC, calling them "ninny-nannies." He points to Japan as a model, where widespread cooling contributed to its manufacturing success, though he dismisses the Cool Biz campaign's 28°C target as too warm for productivity. Brûlé proposes a "Daikindex" named after Daikin, the world's largest AC manufacturer, to measure urban cooling coverage for future quality-of-life rankings. He also mentions that the French government approved purchasing 30,000 air conditioners for medical facilities. The column coincides with Monocle's Quality of Life ranking, where Tokyo took top prize.