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Monique Barbut reports France has recorded its hottest summer since measurements began in 1900

Monique Barbut, the French Environment Minister, stated that France recorded its hottest summer since measurements began in 1900. The summer of 2026 was characterized by extreme heatwaves, drought, and massive wildfires. According to the national weather agency Meteo France, the summer recorded an average temperature of 24 degrees Celsius, which is 3.6 degrees Celsius above the normal average. The season was marked by very low rainfall, with a rainfall deficit of nearly 40 percent, making it the second driest summer since records began. The country experienced an unprecedented 53 days of heatwave conditions. These heatwaves resulted in thousands of excess deaths, with French Health Minister Stephanie Rist noting a particular increase in deaths among people aged over 45. Barbut presented the summer climate report and promised to provide conclusions by the end of September, which will include a five-year funding plan to speed up the implementation of France's national climate change adaptation plan.

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