What a shock! The heatwave that literally hit France – and which should fade this weekend – left no one unscathed. The overwhelming heat weighed on the organisms and the mind. Transport or energy infrastructures have suffered serious failures. The health system, particularly emergency departments, has been put under severe strain. The authorities expect excess mortality, with isolated, sick and very elderly people being very vulnerable to dehydration. But warnings have also been issued to young people to adapt their daily routine to the extreme conditions.
The violence of the impact also caused a spike in solidarity. The French learned from the heatwave of August 2003. It caused an excess mortality of around 15,000 deaths in France, the authorities having been slow to take stock of its effects. Since then, municipalities, home help associations, hospitals and educational establishments have developed good practices. Parents – and grandparents – have also been on the front lines, picking up their young children when schools were closed.
A central subject for the presidential election
Taking care is vital during these intense episodes. But we must add the need to face the future, admitting that the climate is changing rapidly and that the trend will worsen. It is the responsibility of politicians, particularly candidates for the 2027 presidential election, to propose programs to adapt and transform our ways of living and producing. The media also have a role to play. Global warming questions our model of society and questions us about the world we will leave to future generations. Since we need to change, we might as well accelerate now.
