As of Sunday June 21, 35 French departments are under the highest heatwave alert, with another 45 expected to face lower-tier warnings.
Forecasts indicate peak temperatures of 40°C in western and central France (between Garonne and Loire) early next week.
The current heatwave comes only three weeks after a previous episode, compounding strain on public health and infrastructure.
Ecologist leader Marine Tondelier called the heatwave the result of 'decades of inaction, climate denial and the manufacture of doubt.'
Charles Dennery argues that passive building adaptation is insufficient and calls for lifting the French taboo on air conditioning to protect vulnerable groups.
Most of France is again enduring scorching temperatures, three weeks after a first heatwave swept the country. On June 20, the mercury hit 35°C in many urban areas, accompanied by a weak but hot southerly wind and a UV index of 8. The national weather service has now placed 35 departments under red alert, the highest warning level, effective Sunday June 21. Another 45 departments are expected to face lower-tier alerts. The worst is forecast for the beginning of the week, with peak temperatures of 40°C possible in the west and centre, between the Garonne and Loire rivers.
The recurring heatwaves have drawn sharp political reactions. Marine Tondelier, leader of the Ecologist party (EELV), took to X on Saturday to condemn what she called the result of prolonged failure.
“It is the result of decades of inaction, climate denial and the manufacture of doubt.”
The remark echoes an earlier, widely ridiculed comment by President Emmanuel Macron. During his New Year’s address in December 2022, he asked, "Who could have predicted the climate crisis with its spectacular effects?" The quote has resurfaced in the press as a symbol of official unpreparedness.
Economist Charles Dennery, in an interview with Le Figaro, argues that France must break a longstanding taboo on air conditioning. He contends that passive building adaptation, insulation, shading, natural ventilation, will not suffice to protect the most vulnerable populations as heatwaves multiply. The refusal to embrace air conditioning, encouraged by some ecological discourse, risks leaving the elderly and those in poorly insulated social housing exposed. A separate analysis by LesEchos notes that each new heatwave still catches citizens, local officials and employers off guard, raising questions about why adaptation measures have lagged.
At the neighbourhood level, the heat is triggering tensions over illegal cooling methods. In late May, the town of Asnières (Hauts-de-Seine) sent invoices of €1,000 to two families whose children were caught opening fire hydrants, a forbidden practice. The same report mentions another municipality that is testing a simple alternative to hydrant openings, aiming to offer young residents a safe way to cool down without the fines and water waste. The episode highlights how poorly insulated housing in working-class areas magnifies the impact of extreme heat.
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A second heatwave in three weeks has placed 35 departments on red alert, with temperatures forecast to reach 40°C in the west and centre by early next week.
AI text based on reports by Le Parisien, Mediapart, Le Figaro.fr and other publishers. Published .