Paris Records Hottest Days on Record as Heat Wave Persists

Paris has recorded temperatures above 96 degrees for ten straight days, with a peak of 105 degrees this week. The country logged its highest temperature on record on Tuesday, then matched or exceeded that mark on Wednesday and Thursday. Air-conditioning technician Dhafer Kahri said his phone rang several times an hour as residents sought repairs during the heat.

He limited jobs to apartments with balconies because those units can be installed out of view of neighbors and preservation officials.

The French government and Paris officials have described air-conditioning as a maladaptation that worsens climate change. National building codes tightened after the 1970s energy crisis continue to restrict new installations outside of heat pumps. A 2021 OpinionWay survey found nearly two-thirds of respondents had no air-conditioning and no plans to install it, citing cost and environmental concerns.

Many residents instead close windows at dawn, hang sheets over glass, and apply chalk powder to reflect sunlight.

Nighttime temperatures in Paris fell below 80 degrees for only a few minutes on Wednesday, reducing the effectiveness of passive cooling. Schools have closed and some train service has been canceled during the heat. More than 40 percent of French homes lack solar protection on windows, according to Maider Olivier of the Foundation for Housing of the Disadvantaged.

A proposed national law to simplify shutter installation has made little progress since last year. Emmanuel Bozonnet, a building-physics expert at La Rochelle Université, said well-insulated structures can trap heat when outdoor temperatures remain elevated for multiple days.