“The effects of global warming are already at work in France,” notes the Ministry of Ecological Transition. As summer approaches, the government presented, Thursday, June 8, fifteen measures aimed at “anticipating, informing, protecting” in view of the risks of summer heat waves. “The increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves by 2050 is inevitable,” said the ministry, stressing that they affect “all aspects of our economy and daily life”.
Since 2000, heat waves have been five times more frequent in France than before 1989 and they will be twice as numerous within thirty years. 2022 was, in this respect, quite emblematic of this trend with more than 1,500 local heat records broken, 33 days of heat wave between the beginning of June and the end of August and the earliest heat wave ever recorded between the 15th and the 19th. June.
To cope, the state is planning a campaign for the general public, indicating the work and behavior to have in their home, and the “good gestures” to prevent drowning or take care of their pets. A census of heat islands and fountains in the municipalities will be carried out and communicated to the population, prevention messages in transport and by SMS will also be broadcast in the event of high heat.
The electricity network operators “RTE and Enedis will strengthen the means of monitoring and intervention from the summer of 2023, in particular by deploying emergency teams during heat waves and drought in order to avoid power cuts” , says the government.
Vulnerable people will be encouraged to register on municipal registers set up since the 2003 heat wave so that they can be informed and rescued in the event of excessive heat. Annual inspections of school buildings and in particular examination rooms will also be carried out.
On the business side, a guide on measures and works to improve the temperature in offices will be put in place, while labor inspection controls will be intensified in the sectors most vulnerable to heat-related risks .
Finally, an inventory of cultural and sporting events, also subject to climatic hazards, will be carried out in each department in order to encourage them to adapt their organization in the event of a heat wave. In the event of high risks, the prefects may have to postpone or cancel them.
