In this context, and with the first heat wave of the summer approaching, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Labor, Health, Solidarity, and Families, the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, the Sea, and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty are reminding the public of the measures put in place to protect the population, workers, and local communities.

Protecting citizens: simple and effective measures

To inform and warn the public, Météo-France and health authorities issue alerts in advance of heat waves. A seasonal health monitoring system, overseen by Santé publique France, also tracks their impact and adjusts the preventive measures outlined in the ORSEC provisions.

At the same time, to help everyone adopt the right behaviors, the website vivre-avec-la-chaleur.fr, designed by Santé publique France, centralizes useful tips and advice for protecting oneself, maintaining good health, and adapting daily routines. It offers practical advice on keeping a comfortable temperature at home, adapting to heat waves, knowing where to go when it’s too hot indoors, and adjusting exercise routines during hot weather. These recommendations aim to protect everyone’s health while encouraging responsible behavior, particularly regarding energy conservation.

Météo-France’s heat alert system also informs the public about the arrival of heat waves that impact health via its website (affected departments and timeline, for the current day and the following day) and its social media channels. You can also subscribe to notifications via the Météo-France mobile app to be alerted when the department(s) of your choice are placed under an orange or red alert.

Protecting workers: stricter rules

In response to the risks associated with extreme heat, the Government is taking action to protect workers:

• Effective July 1, employers’ obligations regarding the protection of workers from heat are strengthened by this decree. Preventive measures must be implemented as soon as a yellow alert level is reached, thereby protecting the most vulnerable workers.

• These provisions also apply to civil service personnel: see the recommendations.

• Construction site shutdowns in the building and public works sector may be compensated in the event of extreme heat, starting at the orange alert level: learn more.

Supporting the adaptation of buildings and regions

For service sector stakeholders:

• Cerema offers concrete solutions ranging from building design to urban planning: learn more.

• ADEME publishes prospective climate data files based on the reference warming trajectory for climate change adaptation (TRACC): access the data.

For local governments:
They can benefit from:

• A simplified assessment to understand urban heat island effects at the local level: view the assessment

• Funding through the Green Fund to renovate their schools and educational facilities or to renature their urbanized areas.

• A guide to integrating summer comfort into the energy renovation of their schools: view the guide.

Adapting to heat waves requires collective action. The Government is continuing its coordinated efforts to strengthen prevention, protect the most vulnerable, and support stakeholders over the long term, in accordance with the objectives of the PNACC.