Paris is associated with climate change by virtue of the 2015 international agreement seeking to limit the amount of warming taking place on the planet. But Paris is well aware that the world is not making much progress in meeting the goals of that agreement and the French capital is already suffering from the impact of the warming climate.
France has had multiple heat waves this summer that have seen multiple record high temperatures across the country. Eight of the 10 hottest summers recorded in Paris have occurred since 2015.
Paris officials have performed heat crisis simulations to learn what the effects of extreme heat situations would be. One simulation looked at the impact of temperatures reaching 122 degrees. The consequences to many of the city’s functions and systems would be dire. This might seem outlandish, but in 2019, temperatures in Paris reached 109 degrees, and climate change is warming Europe at more than twice the global average. With its zinc roofs, squares paved with stone, and highest population density in Europe, Paris is especially ill-suited to hot weather.
Paris is taking steps to prepare for a warmer future. It is pulling up asphalt parking places and road centers to plant trees, 15,000 last winter alone. It is putting up more shade structures and water misters. Paris is insulating older buildings – 7,000 a year now and a goal to reach 40,000 a year by 2030. Paris is registering isolated older or disabled people, so that they can be checked on during heat waves.
It is a race against time. Paris is trying to prepare for the changes to come.
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Paris Braces for a Future of Possibly Paralyzing Heat
Photo, posted September 30, 2018, courtesy of Pedro Szekely via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio
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