PARIS – Rising Heat Challenges Parisian Residents
Before the recent heatwave, Amelie Kenney felt fortunate to live in her cozy, affordable top-floor apartment in Paris. The small balcony offered a lovely glimpse of the city’s iconic gray rooftops and, if you leaned out just right, even a view of Sacré Coeur on Montmartre.
However, the 23-year-old recent graduate is finding it increasingly difficult to enjoy her space as an intense heatwave poses health risks, particularly for attic apartments like hers.
“This week has been the worst I’ve ever spent here,” she shared, as Paris and other parts of Europe were engulfed in extreme temperatures. “You feel like you’ve been in a furnace all day and it’s hard to catch a break.”
Many buildings that look charming from the outside have turned out to be unwelcoming under the relentless heat, making it a struggle for residents. This is especially challenging for those living in top-floor apartments who often can’t afford the larger, cooler spaces below.
For them, the unyielding heat can be life-threatening. According to a French Public Health Agency report, research into the deadly heatwave of 2003 revealed that those living directly under roofs in Paris had more than quadrupled risk of dying from heat exposure.
Moreover, a 2023 study published in The Lancet Planetary Health found Paris had the highest risk of heat-related fatalities among the 30 European capitals surveyed.
Most of the city’s roofs are covered with zinc sheets, giving Paris its famed gray aesthetic that has inspired countless artists. Although recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage, zinc’s properties mean it absorbs heat, complicating life for those below.
“People often romanticize living in Parisian attics,” said Maider Olivier of the Housing Foundation advocating for those in need. “But the reality is quite different—many students pay high rents for tiny rooms and are left highly exposed to the crushing heat with no means for proper ventilation.”
Kenny’s sixth-floor walk-up, shared with her partner Francesca Piglia, also 23, is pretty cramped. It holds a desk, a double bed, and a small electric piano, with just one window facing the hot afternoon sun. Their monthly rent of 735 euros (around 85,000 yen) is a struggle for both.
“This was the most affordable option we found,” Kenny explained. “I do love that it overlooks the square; there are weddings nearly every Saturday.” But she’s starting to question if she should have spent a bit more for a cooler alternative.
While air conditioning is common in offices, shopping malls, and theaters, it’s rare in private apartments. In Paris’s densely populated center, many homes are classic Haussmann-style, renowned for their beauty, yet ill-equipped to cope with rising temperatures.
Olivier noted that regulations designed to maintain the unique architectural character of Paris are preventing necessary adaptations for extreme heat, such as insulating roofs or installing shutters to block sunlight.
“These regulations are meant to protect the roofs, but they don’t protect the residents underneath,” she remarked.
Kenney, originally from Australia, and Piglia, who hails from Italy, are no strangers to heat. Yet, recent temperatures in Paris have peaked at record highs for June, surpassing 40°C (104°F) during the day and 25°C (77°F) at night.
They’ve tried various methods to cope: small fans, cold showers, and wet cloths, all while grappling with the decision to keep their windows open or shut.
“I wake up and think it’s too hot, I must open the windows,” Kenny said. “Then, an hour later, I realize it’s too noisy and feel I need to close them.”
“It’s a really confusing cycle.”
