Abstract
Climate change is increasing global temperatures, leading to periods of extreme heat in temperate regions, e.g. in the UK. Cooling can mitigate the impacts of heat, with air-conditioning (AC) widely considered the most effective solution. A projected rise in extreme heat events in temperate climates is likely to trigger a growth in AC uptake, with negative implications for carbon emissions and inequality. Research on how heat is experienced and perceived in temperate climates is limited. Such insights are essential for adapting to and mitigating rising temperatures and developing resilient futures. A study of urban residents (n = 40) in South West England assesses their experiences of heat based on their visual narratives and interviews. Cultural narratives of heat are inherently positive yet contrast with negative experiences. Managing heat is framed as an individual responsibility and mediated through patterns of consumption, social and structural contexts. AC is increasingly becoming normalised as a solution to future extreme heat, with implications for energy use and cooling pathways. To disrupt unsustainable pathways, initiatives and policy should leverage experiential learning to legitimise risks, emphasise impacts, and support passive and sustainable cooling.
Policy relevance
A coherent policy approach is needed to develop future cooling pathways in temperate climates. As extreme heat is now being experienced more frequently in temperate climates unprepared for its diverse impacts, former perceptions of heat as inherently positive are shifting. While cooling demand remains temporal, expectations are now normalising air-conditioned futures. Policies and measures can leverage lived experience to enable preparative rather than reactive responses to extreme heat through structural, social and behavioural interventions. Regulatory approaches can be used to support passive cooling in buildings and urban design, and to disrupt AC market development.