As France faces a series of increasingly severe heat waves, the government is turning to neighboring Spain for insights on coping with extreme summer temperatures. Jean-Pierre Farandou, France’s labor minister, recently initiated contact with his Spanish counterpart, Yolanda Díaz, and plans to visit Madrid in September to study how Spain manages the challenges posed by its hotter climate.

Farandou, who grew up in southwestern France near the Pyrenees, compared the country’s future summers to current Spanish conditions, noting that adapting to heat will require both regulatory changes and cultural shifts. His delegation intends to meet with a broad range of stakeholders, including government officials, business leaders, union representatives, and academics, to better understand Spain’s approaches.

Some of the strategies already being considered or implemented in France mirror Spanish practices. These include shifting work hours earlier in the day to avoid the peak heat, encouraging frequent rest breaks, and promoting hydration. Spain also offers paid leave during climate-related disruptions, a policy introduced after floods in Valencia in 2024, while in France the Green Party has proposed paid vacation days specifically for heat protection, though this proposal faces legislative hurdles.

Both nations are dealing with not only heat waves but also a surge in wildfires. Recent fires have forced mass evacuations across southwestern France and regions near Madrid, where emergency measures remain in place. These events underscore the broader impact of rising temperatures on public safety.

Adapting to heat through behavioral and cultural changes is seen as a cost-effective alternative to expensive infrastructure investments, such as widespread air-conditioning or net-zero carbon measures. Urban anthropologists note that adjusting daily schedules and work habits can be implemented at little or no cost. However, experts caution that Spanish customs like the siesta or early workdays are not universal, nor easily transferable to populations most exposed to heat, such as outdoor and manual laborers.

Spain itself faces significant challenges in heat adaptation. Approximately one in three Spanish households struggle to keep their homes adequately cool during summer, indicating that adaptation is uneven and partial. This complexity suggests that Spain’s experience offers valuable lessons but is not a comprehensive solution.

France’s existing administrative and social frameworks, many dating back to the Napoleonic era, were not designed with a hotter climate in mind. Current conditions, such as the clash between the traditionally busy month of June with school exams and construction and the occurrence of intense heat waves, exacerbate risks. The recent heat wave from June 17 to July 2 led to nearly 6,000 excess deaths and numerous tragic drownings as people sought relief in waterways.

To mitigate these impacts, Farandou has proposed measures such as keeping public pools open at night for safer cooling opportunities and adjusting school exam schedules. He also supports relaxing workplace dress codes during heat waves to improve comfort.

Architectural elements also come into focus, with Spanish homes often featuring thick walls, narrow windows, and sun-shading devices, contrasting with French preferences for large windows and zinc roofs that retain heat. The installation of air-conditioning presents a contentious issue; it is widespread in Spain’s hottest areas, while in France it raises environmental concerns and political debate due to its high energy consumption and contribution to heat emissions.

Farandou, drawing on his experience in the United States, favors targeted use of cooling systems in vulnerable settings such as schools and healthcare facilities but rejects wholesale American-style air-conditioning as impractical for France. He emphasizes the cultural and geographic proximity of Spain makes it a more relevant model than other hotter regions with extensive air-conditioning.

Ultimately, Farandou acknowledges that adapting to prolonged and intense heat will require profound changes in French daily life. He expressed confidence that the population will need to embrace significant adjustments to manage the growing threat posed by climate change.