As heat waves increasingly impact France, the French government is seeking guidance from Spain on how to better manage extreme summer temperatures. Jean-Pierre Farandou, France’s labor minister, who grew up in the sun-soaked southwest near the Pyrénées, is leading a delegation to Spain in September to study how the country adapts to its hotter climate. Farandou described Spain as a country with cultural and social practices well-suited to enduring high temperatures, noting that France is beginning to resemble Spain in its climate challenges.

The visit will include discussions with Spanish officials, business leaders, union representatives, academics, and residents to explore the social organization and policies that help Spain cope with heat. Some measures already familiar to France include shifting work hours to earlier in the day for manual and outdoor workers, taking frequent rest breaks, and emphasizing hydration. Spain also offers paid leave during climate-related disruptions, a policy initially implemented after floods in 2024, while France is considering, but has not adopted, proposals such as paid vacation days to protect workers during extreme heat.

Both France and Spain face threats from wildfires, which have recently forced evacuations in regions near the Atlantic coast of France and around Madrid in Spain, where a national emergency was declared due to uncontrolled fires.

Farandou highlighted Spain’s cultural practices—such as the siesta and late dinners—as integral to coping with heat, although he acknowledged that replicating these habits in northern France would be challenging. Experts note that behavioral adaptations are a cost-effective response compared to infrastructure investments like widespread air-conditioning or aggressive carbon-reduction policies.

However, some analysts caution against viewing Spanish methods as a complete solution. Traditional heat-adaptation customs are not universal within Spain and may exclude vulnerable workers in sectors like agriculture and construction. Additionally, research shows that about one-third of Spanish households struggle to keep their homes sufficiently cool during summer, indicating uneven adaptation to heat-related challenges.

France’s recent experience with heat waves has underscored the urgency of change. From June 17 to July 2, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), resulting in nearly 6,000 excess deaths. The intense heat also contributed to approximately 90 deaths from people seeking relief in waterways. Farandou has suggested practical adjustments such as keeping public pools open at night, rescheduling school exams, and relaxing workplace dress codes during heat events.

Architectural differences between the countries also offer lessons. Spanish homes often feature thick walls and small windows with shutters to minimize heat, while many modern French buildings emphasize large windows and zinc roofs, which absorb significant heat. While air-conditioning is prevalent in Spain’s hottest regions, with around 75% of homes equipped, its adoption in France remains controversial due to environmental concerns and energy consumption.

Farandou, who worked in the United States before entering government, supports installing cooling systems in sensitive places like schools and healthcare facilities but argues that widespread American-style air-conditioning would not fit France’s context. He emphasized the cultural and geographic proximity of Spain as a more relevant model for France’s adaptation efforts.

Ultimately, Farandou stated that adapting to longer and more intense heat periods requires not only regulatory changes but also profound shifts in daily life, reflecting a growing awareness in France of the need to adjust to a warming climate.