France is a pioneer within the subject of warmth safety | EUROtoday

France selected the primary nationwide warmth safety plan greater than twenty years in the past. The early perception was attributable to a tragic circumstance. Almost 20,000 folks died in probably the most intense and longest warmth wave from August 2 to 17, 2003. 87 p.c of the warmth victims had been over 70 years outdated, based on the statistics. The shock was deep. A parliamentary investigation fee opened the collective failure and proposed enhancements. The measures for warmth safety targeted on the danger teams of older and sick folks. In the meantime, the youngsters have come into focus. Determined structural retrofits at kindergartens and faculties in addition to at outdated folks’s properties and hospitals are challenged.

In 2004, the federal government beneath Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin determined to delete a vacation in an effort to make a so-called solidarity day. Until 2008, work was carried out on Whit Monday to finance warmth safety and autonomy aids for older and disabled folks with the earnings. The rule has been loosened since then, and the solidarity day may also happen on every other holidays in May. French care and outdated folks’s properties had been higher insulated, typically retrofitted with solar safety and air con techniques. According to the regulation, all services will need to have no less than one air -conditioned frequent room.

In addition, establishments for outdated or disabled folks have been legally obliged to create and observe warmth disaster plans since 2004. This contains, for instance, the potential of mobilizing extra workers at brief discover to make sure the care throughout warmth waves. All city halls are obliged to create a listing of single folks over the age of 65 who stay at residence in order that they will obtain assist in the occasion of a warmth wave. France doesn’t have as strict information safety necessities as Germany. In the departments during which the alarm degree is at present purple, together with the larger Paris space, disaster cells are in use within the city halls. They name the only seniors, inquire about their situation and provide assist.

The central warmth safety plan additionally features a mounted warning system in 4 levels, which is activated in shut coordination with the nationwide climate service. At the best alarm degree purple – as is at present the case – a disaster staff is used within the affected departments, which incorporates all actors in civil safety, the police and representatives of the native authorities. But there’s nonetheless criticism of the well being buildings. The chairman of the emergency docs, Marc Noizet, welcomes that there’s a highly effective surveillance system in France. But the dearth of beds and workers result in the hospital system wouldn’t have the ability to address an excessive warmth wave, warns NOIZET. The chairman of the affiliation of outdated folks’s residence managers, Pierre Roux, additionally believes that the enhancements of the previous 20 years have been indispensable, however there isn’t a extra workers for actual warmth crises.

The municipalities occupy a pioneering position in lengthy -term warmth safety. Cities similar to Lyon, Bordeaux, Grenoble or Strasbourg have opened up new inexperienced areas lately and constructed shady “cooling islands”. The transformation of the capital Paris is taken into account exemplary, which, nonetheless, remains to be sharply criticized. The outgoing Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo has decided the automotive -friendly metropolis since 2014. Former parking areas and streets, similar to the previous financial institution of the financial institution on the Seine, had been greened and “slowed down”.

According to the city corridor, 113,000 of the promised 170,000 extra bushes had been planted. Traffic nodes similar to on the Porte Maillot or stone areas such because the Place de Catalogne at Montparnasse station have been redesigned with bushes and bushes. These “urban forests”, in addition to new, warmth, ought to contribute to the cooling of the town. Under Hidalgo’s course, 1400 so -called cooling islands had been proven within the metropolis, a few of that are geared up with spray crops and water dispensers. The metropolis’s 21 parks stay open at evening in the course of the warmth wave.

France sees itself as a pioneer within the egg seal. The local weather regulation of August 22, 2021, which was determined beneath President Emmanuel Macron, stipulates the purpose of a internet zero seal by 2050. Every 12 months the identical space, which is sealed by buildings, is to be sealed elsewhere. The cross -party initiative “Paris at 50 degrees Celsius” has made additional proposals, together with the huge greening of the parking bays, the alternative of asphalt with permeable soils and the redesign of colleges.

Concrete flooring have already been eliminated in lots of faculty yards and changed by tree -covered lawns. But the pure shadow donors do not like everybody. The right-wing populist Marine Le Pen has referred to as for a big “air conditioning system” plan: Due to the growing temperatures, all public buildings and faculties must be retrofitted with cooling techniques. Similar to Germany, air con techniques will not be widespread in France.