France heatwave management plan

The objectives of this plan are to systematically prepare in advance of the summer period, anticipate the expected arrival of a heatwave, and define actions to be implemented at the national and local levels to prevent and limit its impacts. It considers the specificities of overseas territories which, due to their geographical and climatic situations, the impact of climate change, the rise in temperatures, and the lack of infrastructure and maintenance thereof, are confronted with significant heatwaves over long periods.

This plan is not intended to replace the plan managed by the Ministry of Health regarding health risks, but to complement it. An interministerial feedback was conducted following the two heatwaves of 2019, as well as the drought episode of 2022. It was found that although the healthcare system was generally not strained during these episodes due to the activation of the national heatwave plan, these heatwaves impacted the entire population and had major consequences in many areas: closure of schools and daycare centers, postponement of school exams, cancellation of sports and cultural events, disruptions in public transport causing significant inconvenience to users, animal mortality, drying up of watercourses, difficulties in water supply, crop fires, among others. It was thus decided to extend the national heatwave management plan to take into account all impacts of these events.