Paris - massive investments for a livable city in the face of climate change

The municipality of Paris has announced an ambitious urban adaptation plan, in the context of the increased risk of extreme heat waves, with temperatures that could reach 50 degrees Celsius in the coming years. The measures come as a direct response to the increasingly harsh realities of climate change.

• Reconfiguring the city for survival

Local authorities will invest hundreds of millions of euros to transform the French capital into a more heat-resilient city. Among the priorities: Expanding green spaces and shading installations, adapted to Parisian urban architecture; Renovating public buildings, including roofs painted white or green to reflect heat; Equipping public fountains with water sprayers to cool the air; Thermal insulation of social housing, including with new blinds and windows.

Dan Lert, deputy mayor responsible for ecology and energy, stressed that "Paris is one of the European cities most exposed to heat-related mortality, due to its urban density and mineral surfaces that absorb heat.”

• Schools, kindergartens and hospitals - in the spotlight

The plan calls for the renovation of hundreds of schools and kindergartens to include shaded areas and building materials adapted to the new climate conditions. By 2042, another 300 public buildings - including hospitals and nursing homes - will be connected to the centralized urban cooling system, powered by water from the Seine. This ecological cooling infrastructure offers an alternative to air conditioners, considered polluting and energy-inefficient in an urban context.

• Paris as a model of urban climate resilience

In a city with a historic infrastructure and high density, adapting to the climate crisis is not just a matter of comfort, but of urban survival. The Parisian authorities hope that through these measures, the metropolis will remain livable and sustainable even in the face of unprecedented heat waves.