Is this the heatwave that finally changes French minds on air conditioning? Not the mind of environment minister Monique Barbut, for one, who said she was “horrified” by the idea of it becoming widespread. The rest of the world looked on perplexed as France suffered a brutal week, particularly for schools, hospitals and care homes. Long suspicious of it, French people are slowly adopting A/C, but it remains politically controversial and difficult to install in historic towns and cities.