There has been a widespread impression in recent weeks that the issue of the heatwave boils down to that of air conditioning. Whether or not to install air conditioners has become the main subject of public debate, leading politicians and commentators into sterile debates, thereby imposing a false alternative between adaptation and the fight against climate change. As if I had to choose.
There is a subject, on the other hand, which has occupied much less attention on television: that of paying attention to others. In these scorching times, the imperative of solidarity is essential to all of us. And for good reason: in recent weeks, the heat has hit the oldest and most isolated. Many died at home, alone, discovered by a neighbor or friend who was worried about not having any news. This solidarity can be exercised at many levels: that of a family, between generations, but also of a building or a neighborhood. Already, in our country, many volunteers are working to call or visit the most isolated or vulnerable people. The awareness that arose after the heatwave of 2003 seems not to have faded: we must take care of each other.
Obviously, this solidarity should not stop there. Once the heat wave has passed – and while we wait for the next one – we will need to think individually and collectively about the consequences of these episodes. We will also have to force our politicians, already launched into the presidential campaign, to take this subject seriously. For this, each of us will soon have a formidable tool: our ballot.
