Paris When It Sizzles: The City of Light Aims to Get Smart on Heat

Photo caption: Paris’ iconic zinc roofs can heat up to 194 degrees F on a hot summer day. Photo credit: Jan Woitas / Picture-Alliance via Getty Images. Article by Jeff Goodell. Adapted from Jeff Goodell’s latest book: The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet. Yale Environment 360 – July 18, 2023.

There’s a long tradition in France of taking August off for holiday. Paris virtually shuts down as the temperature drifts around in the seventies, and people go to the beach or the mountains to cool off and relax. Think of it as an old‑fashioned adaptation to heat. People who stick around during August are often older or have jobs that require them to stay and keep the city functioning. […]

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