Key Points

• The summer of 2024 was 0.7°C warmer than normal, with regional variations, as the Mediterranean region was the most affected. According to Météo France, it ranks as the 8th hottest summer since 1900. In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, a heatwave occurred from July 28 to 31, with six departments particularly affected.

• Nationally, more than 17,000 emergency care visits related to the iCanicule composite health indicator (including heatstroke, dehydration, and hyponatremia) were recorded during the summer. Although all age groups were affected, people aged 75 and older accounted for more than half of the iCanicule-related visits to emergency rooms. More than 3,700 deaths were attributable to heat exposure across the entire summer monitoring period, representing more than 2% of all-cause mortality observed. During heatwave episodes, more than 600 deaths were attributable to heat exposure, representing more than 10% of all-cause mortality observed during these episodes. More than three-quarters of these deaths involved people aged 75 and older.

• In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 190 emergency room visits (71% of which were followed by hospitalization) and 320 SOS Médecins calls for the iCanicule indicator were recorded between June 1 and September 15, 2024. More than half of the iCanicule-related visits involved people aged 75 or older. This age group also accounted for more than three-quarters of hospitalizations related to iCanicule. Over the course of the summer, nearly 363 heat-related deaths were estimated (representing 2% of all-cause mortality), 79 of which occurred during the heatwave.

• The observed health impacts underscore the importance of implementing preventive measures to mitigate the effects of heat, not only during heat waves but throughout the summer, and the need for a strengthened climate change adaptation strategy at both the national and regional levels.