A viral social media claim that Spain has banned citizens from setting air conditioners below 27°C during the current European heatwave is false. The claim, which circulated on platform X, originated from a 2022 decree that applied only to public buildings and has since expired.
Origin of the False Claim
American entrepreneur Jeremy Kauffman shared a screenshot reading “Spain is banning people from setting their air-con below 27°C,” amassing over 800,000 views. Other users amplified the claim, linking it to the ongoing heatwave that has pushed temperatures to record highs in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, France, and Spain.
Fact-Check Reveals 2022 Decree
A keyword search found no credible reports of a new ban. Instead, a Time Out article from August 3, 2022, revealed that Spain had passed a decree making it illegal to set air-conditioning below 27°C in public buildings like airports, cinemas, bars, rail stations, shopping centres, and theatres. The law did not apply to households, though citizens were encouraged to follow suit. The decree aimed to reduce energy consumption by 7% and lower dependency on Russian oil and gas amid the Ukraine war. It expired after one year.
Official Confirmation
The official website of the President of the Government of Spain confirmed the Royal Decree-Law on August 1, 2022, as part of a “Shock Plan for Energy Saving and Management in Air Conditioning.” Similar measures were adopted by Germany (heating public buildings at max 19°C) and France (fines for shops leaving doors open while air-conditioned).
Climate Crisis Context
The UN’s climate chief, Simon Stiell, stated that the heatwave “has the fingerprints of the climate crisis all over it,” warning that extreme heat will worsen until fossil fuel use stops. A UN report notes that air conditioners contribute to global warming, and by 2050, cooling could account for 10% of global greenhouse gases. The urban heat island effect is exacerbated by AC units, as explained by climate risk expert Hans-Martin Füssel.
Conclusion
The claim that Spain has barred citizens from setting air conditioners below 27°C during the current heatwave is false. The viral screenshot is from a 2022 energy-saving decree that applied only to public buildings and has expired. No such restrictions have been issued in response to the current heatwave.
