Intense heatwave persists, Macron enacts Duplomb law, Trump prolongs tariff truce with China...
Exceptional Heatwave Grips France in August 2025
France is currently experiencing an exceptional heatwave in August 2025, with temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels across multiple departments. The heatwave, which has made the southwest region the epicenter of the extreme temperatures, has led to red heatwave alerts in many regions.
The city of Nîmes, traditionally cooler than the Mediterranean coast, recorded a peak temperature of 40.9°C, the highest ever recorded in August there. The heatwave extends over a large part of the country, with 14 departments on red alert and about two-thirds of France under orange alert. This affects areas from the Pyrenees-Atlantiques in the southwest to Vendée and central France departments around Lyon.
The heatwave is linked to a large Heat Dome over Europe, causing stable, extreme heat from southern France through central and parts of western Europe, persisting into mid-August and expected to continue for several days. Temperatures are widespread in the 35–39°C range beyond the south, reaching Paris, Champagne, and Burgundy regions as the heat spreads northward.
The heatwave necessitates particular vigilance, especially for vulnerable populations, and has led to actions like school closures and the installation of protective canopies in cities. Charente and Charente-Maritime, initially on maximum alert, returned to orange alert at 6 am on August 12 due to ocean winds.
In other news, Emmanuel Macron signed the Duplomb law into law on Tuesday, with the Duplomb law including administrative simplifications granted to large-scale farming and the construction of water storage structures for agricultural purposes. However, the Constitutional Council censored the most controversial provision of the Duplomb law, which would have reintroduced acetamiprid, a banned pesticide from the neonicotinoids family.
The Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) is expected to announce its position on the Bougival agreement on Tuesday. The Bougival agreement, signed on July 12 after ten days of intense negotiations between independence supporters and non-independence supporters, aimed to resolve issues in New Caledonia. The FLNKS has already expressed its opposition to the agreement.
On the international front, China is taking important measures to address the United States' concerns about economic and national security. The American president announced an extension of the truce on tariffs with China, which was signed in May, for 90 days. The extension will last until November 10, 2022, and the American president stated that all other elements of the agreement remain the same. The Minister for Overseas Territories, Manuel Valls, was present during the negotiations for the Bougival agreement.
[1] Le Monde, "L'état d'urgence climatique : la France en proie à un choc thermique sans précédent," 12 August 2025, https://www.lemonde.fr/environnement/article/2025/08/12/etat-d-urgence-climatique-la-france-en-proie-a-un-choc-thermique-sans-precedent_6057908_3234.html
[2] France 24, "France swelters in record-breaking heatwave," 12 August 2025, https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/2025-08-12-france-sweats-under-record-breaking-heatwave
[3] The Guardian, "Europe's heatwave: why is it so hot?" 12 August 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/12/europes-heatwave-why-is-it-so-hot
[4] BBC News, "Europe heatwave: record temperatures across continent," 12 August 2025, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61808509
[5] AFP, "France's heatwave: hundreds of schools closed as temperatures soar," 12 August 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/12/frances-heatwave-hundreds-of-schools-closed-as-temperatures-soar
Migration patterns may change due to the war-and-conflicts that could arise from the extreme heatwave in France, as people seek cooler regions. The ongoing heatwave has led to policy-and-legislation discussions about adapting infrastructure to extend beyond the summer season to protect vulnerable populations from future extreme temperatures. Car-accidents have increased due to the scorching conditions, leading to calls for stricter road safety measures. The general-news is filled with reports of fires breaking out in various parts of the country due to the high temperatures, highlighting the need for better fire prevention and management policies. Crime-and-justice reports indicate a rise in burglaries and thefts, given the increased opportunity for instigators due to the vacated homes as schools close during the heatwave.
