Paris, the deadliest European city in heatwaves

Paris holds the sad record as the deadliest capital in Europe—and potentially the developed world—during heatwaves. According to a study published in The Lancet in 2023, the French capital has the highest risk of heat-related mortality among 854 European cities analysed, with an average of 400 deaths each year attributed to extreme heat.

But why is Paris so vulnerable?

The first answer to this question lies in what specialists call the "urban heat island effect." This phenomenon, particularly pronounced in the French capital, can raise temperatures 8 to 10°C higher than in the suburbs, especially at night. In 2021, 90% of Parisians were exposed to a heat island at least 3°C ​​above normal temperatures, and 10% of the Parisian population experienced a difference of more than 6°C.

The second element of the answer is the lack of vegetation and the urban materials used. The lack of green spaces and the predominance of dark surfaces (asphalt, facades) exacerbate heat retention, making certain neighbourhoods particularly dangerous during temperature spikes.

The third vulnerability factor is the high population density, the existence of many working-class neighborhoods with fewer cool spaces and air conditioning systems, as well as the high proportion of elderly and chronically ill people in these areas.

Finally, the insufficient thermal insulation of buildings, particularly older buildings, complicates the protection of residents, especially since energy renovation is hampered by the structure of property ownership in Paris.

The combination of these factors explains why excess mortality linked to heatwaves is 1.6 times higher in Paris than in other major European cities, for all ages, and particularly among those over 85. The homeless, children, the elderly, and those suffering from chronic illnesses are the most at-risk groups.

With massive tree planting, the proliferation of shaded areas and misting fountains, the expansion of the urban cooling network, and energy renovation projects, the French capital will have to accelerate its transformation to prevent this sad record from worsening in the coming decades.

(MH with LpR - Source : rfi, Novethic, France 24, Le Parisien, Le Monde - Picture : Unsplash)