The French government is keeping its national health emergency response plan at the highest alert level following a record-breaking heatwave [3].

This decision comes as officials face intense scrutiny over the state's ability to protect vulnerable citizens during extreme weather events. Critics argue that a lack of preparedness led to avoidable fatalities and overwhelmed medical infrastructure.

During the heatwave in June 2024, temperatures reached up to 40 °C [2]. The extreme heat caused around 1,000 excess deaths across the country [1]. The surge in temperatures placed a particular strain on hospitals and aged-care homes, where cooling systems and staffing levels were reportedly insufficient to handle the crisis [2].

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government is maintaining the health emergency response plan, known as ORSAN, at its highest level for the coming days. This measure is intended to prepare the nation for a possible recurrence of a heatwave episode [3].

Despite the current alert level, the administration has come under fire from both left- and right-wing political parties. These critics said the authorities were insufficiently prepared for the peak temperatures, which left health services unable to cope with the influx of patients [1], [2].

While the government points to the active status of ORSAN as evidence of its response, the death toll has fueled demands for a systemic overhaul of how France manages extreme heat. The tension highlights a gap between the activation of emergency protocols and the actual effectiveness of those plans on the ground during a climate crisis [1].

“The extreme heat caused around 1,000 excess deaths across the country.”

The controversy over the June 2024 heatwave response underscores a growing tension in Europe between administrative emergency planning and the reality of escalating climate extremes. While the French government utilizes the ORSAN plan to manage crises, the significant number of excess deaths suggests that traditional emergency responses may no longer be sufficient for temperatures reaching 40 °C, necessitating a shift toward long-term urban and medical adaptation.