The heatwave that has engulfed France is underscoring the country’s lack of preparedness for climate change. Researcher and climate scientist François Gemenne laments that this is only considered a crisis during heatwaves, saying that France urgently needs to renovate its buildings – and reconsider its aversion to air conditioning.
The heatwave that has swept France since June 17 has caused record-breaking temperatures, more than 800 school closures and the cancellation of 10 percent of the trains serving the Paris region. The heat is of “exceptional” intensity, similar to the August 2003 heatwave that caused 15,000 deaths, according to the Metéo France national weather service.
