France declares heat emergency as Europe burns — but experts warn against blanketing country with air conditioning

France is bracing for its third heat wave of the year, with forecasters warning that daytime highs could reach 41 degrees Celsius as heat-related damage spreads across the country.

Experts said the government's slowing pace of carbon reduction and the rollback of some climate policies are making it increasingly difficult to achieve the 2050 carbon neutrality target, and called for a more forceful response.

France's High Council on Climate said in its annual assessment report released Thursday that current climate policies are "insufficient" to meet the 2050 carbon neutrality goal and prevent a sharp deterioration of climate risks, according to the daily Le Monde.

According to the council, France's greenhouse gas emissions have fallen 34 percent since 1990 and 22 percent since 2015, but the pace of reduction has slowed in recent years. Emissions dropped only 3 percent in 2024 and 2.1 percent last year. A preliminary figure for the first quarter of this year showed a 4.8 percent decline, though the council said that was largely attributable to mild weather.

The council also flagged the continued weakening of France's forests, one of the country's primary carbon sinks. Climate change and logging have progressively eroded forests' ability to absorb carbon dioxide, it said.

The council urged a "step-change in policy scale" on both greenhouse gas reduction and climate adaptation.

To strengthen society's and the economy's resilience to climate change, the council put forward 82 recommendations. Heat wave measures include expanding cool public spaces and free water play facilities, and establishing standards for halting outdoor work above certain temperatures.

On the long-debated question of air conditioning, council member Paul Ridley said it is necessary in specific settings such as hospitals and schools, but "should not be indiscriminately installed everywhere."

Instead, the council recommended expanding urban green spaces, installing awnings and window shutters, building district cooling networks, and promoting fixed cooling systems and heat pumps over portable air conditioners. However, the council warned that no adaptation policy will be sufficient if greenhouse gas emissions continue to accumulate.

France's average temperature has already risen 2.2 degrees Celsius since the early 20th century. If current global climate policies remain in place, the average temperature is projected to climb by 4 degrees by 2100, with the number of heat wave days expected to reach 10 times current levels.

As France endures its third heat wave of the year, orange heat alerts were issued Thursday for 72 of the country's 96 mainland departments. The national weather service forecast daytime highs of 35 to 39 degrees Celsius across the country, with some areas potentially reaching 41 degrees.