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France Recorded 'Hottest Summer Ever' in 2026, Environment Minister Says
France saw 53 heatwave days this summer, with wildfires burning six times the average area and thousands of excess deaths, officials said.
- Environment Minister Monique Barbut announced on Thursday that France experienced its hottest summer since 1900. "We have just lived through the hottest summer ever recorded since measurements began in 1900," Barbut said.
- The weather service Meteo-France reported 53 days of heatwave conditions, a "completely unprecedented number," while scientists recorded more than 7,300 excess deaths as France joined Britain and Belgium in record heat.
- Intense heat fueled major French wildfires, with burned areas reaching six times the 20-year average by end of August. "By the end of August, forest fires had already burned six times more area than the average of the last twenty years," Barbut said.
- Schools faced closures during the extreme heat, forcing residents to rush on fans and air conditioning units. Barbut acknowledged "situations for which we could have been better prepared" while planning immediate cooling measures.
- Barbut promised a five-year funding plan "by the end of September" to address climate adaptation. She questioned whether this summer marks "the first in a long series of summers that continue to break records" or a turning point.
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With an unprecedented average temperature of 24 °C, the Hexagon has just crossed the most stifling summer ever measured since 1900. Rhythming by three intense waves, red alerts as early as June and fires...
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In its climate balance sheet of the summer of 2026, Météo-France returns to the extreme season that France experienced this year. Chain of heats, historical drought, fires... The balance sheet is heavy. And the off-standard readings may not be complete. - France has just experienced its warmest summer ever recorded (Environment).
Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
L 20%
C 60%
R 20%
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