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France records hottest day ever as Europe suffers brutal heat wave
Thousands of schools closed as temperatures neared 40C, while politicians and environmentalists clashed over whether more air-conditioning is needed.
On Tuesday, France experienced its hottest day on record, forcing city dwellers to endure extreme heat as temperatures approached danger levels. The crisis triggered a nationwide re-evaluation of the country's longstanding reservations regarding air-conditioning.
Only about 25% of French homes have air-conditioning, as building norms previously prioritized insulation over cooling systems. Environmentalists long viewed air-conditioning as aggravating climate change rather than solving it.
Marine called for a nationwide "plan clim" to equip schools and hospitals. Ecologists party head Marie Tondelier stated, "There are places where we just can't do without it now," breaking with past "anti-clim dogma."
National Rally spokesman Jean-Philippe Tanguy proposed $22.7bn in interest-free loans to help 30 to 40 million householders install cooling units. Critics denounced the plan as opportunistic and uncosted.
Valerie, who controls Paris regional transport, aims to equip all buses and trains with air-conditioning by 2032. A new hospital in Nantes continues facing scrutiny over limited cooling capacity in only half its rooms.