There is no alternative in hot, humid regions (cryopaint is not proven). In dry ones swamp cooling and fans help.
However, I’m not sure many people are saying air conditioning is a solution to climate change.
Many are saying it’s an adaptation necessary to survive in warming humid regions. The human body cannot thermoregulate in wet bulb temperatures above 35c. Fans don’t help as the body cannot evaporate sweat into saturated air that is as warm or warmer. Air conditioning not only cools, but removes humidity.
If you get a severe case of influenza, it comes with a fever. The fever is a symptom, not the underlying cause of the illness, but it can kill faster. As a result, you need to treat it as well as the flu, often with acetaminophen. Air conditioning does not treat the underlying cause, but it can mitigate the symptom that kills fastest.
I hesitate to contradict you but they really are. Many use more efficient parts, but the mechanism is the same.