Extreme weather events (EWE) are the most direct and visible example of how climate change threatens human health. Notwithstanding the diversity of EWEs, they all have recurrent impacts on mortality, morbidity and mental health. These impacts largely depend on exposure conditions, on the response measures implemented, and on socio-economic determinants. Forest fires and heat waves are the EWEs in all likelihood presenting the highest risks for respiratory health, and they are likely to rapidly evolve over the coming years. Since 2004, more than 10,000 excess deaths have been recorded during heat waves in France, 76 % of them after 2015. Pronounced synergies between extreme heat and air pollution are now documented in the literature. In addition to appropriate behaviours and medical care during EWEs, adaptation must now focus on long-term interventions, the objectives being to reduce exposure, to improve the quality of our environment and to reinforce social ties.