Since end of May, heatwaves have been following each other in France and across Europe. June 2026 was the hottest on record in Western Europe since weather records began; In France, the average temperature was 3.8°C above the 1991–2020 average, with daily averages (night and day) for full France exceeding 30°C for the first time. In this context, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (CEA/CNRS/University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines) contributed to the analysis of these extreme events within the IPSL scientific community – which LSCE belongs to – in order to better understand the exceptional nature of these weather episodes and to revitalise discussions on the challenges of adapting to climate change. This publication, ‘Insights into the June 2026 Heatwave’, coordinated by the IPSL’s ‘Climat-Société’ centre, brings together 25 articles from over 60 contributors. The document is accompanied by a series of practical fact sheets on ‘18 things to know about heatwaves’.
Intensification of heat extremes is mainly due to rising concentrations of greenhouse gases, but it can be exacerbated by other factors, including the interplay between soil drying and air overheating, the reduction in particulate matter emissions (and thus their cooling effect), and urbanisation, particularly at night.
Valérie Masson-Delmotte, Myriam Khodri, co-head of the « Climat-Société » center from IPSL and Sophie Godin-Beekmann, head of IPSL.