Depends on the countries, France has had low carbon electricity for a very long time.

That said F-gases would have been an issue, EU only recently banned them.

Also most of Europe truly didn't need AC for a long time, growing up temperature above 30C was exceptional and I didn't even know the term tropical night (nighttime temperature above 20C).

(Now that places are getting 10+ consecutive days above 30 with peaks close or above 40)