Europe's Heatwave Leaves at Least 1,000 Excess Deaths in France

France has recorded at least 1,000 excess deaths during a severe heatwave across Europe, its public health agency said, warning that the true figure is likely higher. The South China Morning Post reported that most of the fatalities were among people aged 65 and older, based on a preliminary count.

The heat has prompted unusual responses and a policy debate. In Germany, the worst of the heat was moving east, and a Green politician called for the rapid installation of air conditioning in public facilities, Deutsche Welle reported. Israeli outlet Ynet noted that only about a fifth of European homes have air conditioning, and that demand for cooling units is now surging as even environmentally focused politicians reconsider their earlier opposition to them.

The economic dimension is real. Heat on this scale reduces labor productivity, raises electricity demand for cooling, and strains health systems and infrastructure. A continent with little installed cooling capacity faces a sudden need for investment, and the debate over how to pay for it and reconcile it with climate goals is now active across several governments.