I wrote about the heatwave in Paris in 2019, and it got hot again right away in June this year! Few houses in Paris still have air conditioners, and ours are fan-only. In Paris, a “heatwave day” is when the minimum daytime temperature is 31°C and the minimum nighttime temperature is 21°C. Although there were no heatwave days in June, there were several days when the temperature exceeded 30°C during the day, our cats went limp and my husband suffered a very mild but panicked heat stroke.
The last time there was a historic heat wave that killed about 15,000 people was in 2003. I moved to Paris in the fall of 2003, so even on the hottest days, I was comfortable in the shade, and since quite a few people leave Paris on vacation, I thought a quiet, cool Parisian summer would be great! I thought.
However, looking at summer temperatures over the past few years, there have been a series of high years. The average temperature in France from June to August, according to the French Meteorological Service, topped the list in 2003, followed by 2022, 2018, 2019, and 1947.
According to “The Lancet Planetary Health,” Paris is the number one European city at risk of heat-related death. With predictions that this summer is likely to be hot again, here is what the city of Paris is doing about it.
The most basic information, such as drinking enough water, eating properly, and confirming each other’s safety with those close to you, is communicated here and there using bulletin boards and flyers.
Throughout the year, 140 parks and green spaces are open 24 hours a day, with more open during the summer months and heat waves.
France has issued four levels of heat wave warnings, and at level 3, air-conditioned rooms in each arrondissement in Paris will also be opened. However, we were not able to get to the air-conditioned room at City Hall, where we finally arrived during a heat wave a few years ago, because the air-conditioning system was broken, so we had to be on our guard!
People who are elderly, live alone, or have health concerns can register in advance on a list called “Reflex” and receive a confirmation call when a heat wave hits. 10,000 people have registered, and in 2022, 158 of those registered who were contacted were visited at home to confirm their safety.
In addition, we have taken the following measures based on the Paris Agreement.
Planting of 25,000 trees
26 shaded locations
40 new water fountains and misting stations
60 misting locations
Greening of roads and school grounds, installation of rest areas with benches with cooling systems, etc.
Insulation retrofit of 5,000 public housing units
Cool roof” promotion: painting the rooftop white makes it harder to raise the temperature inside the building.
Eco Renovation: subsidizes the cost of greening the roofs and walls of buildings and renovating the walls and windows of old apartments to lower energy consumption.
The summer-only “Paris Coast” has begun again this year, and although the city of Paris is taking various measures to protect itself from the heat, it still does not feel cooler at all. Mosquitoes and flies are more common than in the past. I went to a store specializing in sunshades and blinds, and they told me, “We have received so many orders for screen doors this year that we can’t keep up with them. I also hear from many places that rats have appeared.
As of the beginning of July when I am writing this article, we have not yet had a heat wave, but I am nervous about what will happen in August. I will do everything I can to avoid the heat, and I will try to get through this summer while taking vacations to Paris in between. Take care, everyone in Japan!
© Source travel watch
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