“When you suffer from the heat, you really understand the absurdity of certain behaviors25-year-old Mari exclaims. For the Parisian, the latest bout of heatwave that has ravaged France in recent days felt like a snap. “This is the first time such temperatures have been so close together.“He says he’s worried now.”to see the degradation and suffering of the planet“.
“We see that it’s hard on our bodies. We tell ourselves that global warming is really scary and dangerous for the planet, but also for people. »
Marie, a 25-year-old Parisian.
While the mercury rose to 40°C,young professionalas he likes to describe himself, he suffered from high temperature. “We see that it’s hard on our bodies. We tell ourselves that global warming is really scary and dangerous for the planet, but also for people, looking at the fires, the melting roads, the lack of water…”
Like Marie, many of them became aware of the climate emergency after successive heat waves. Joel is 74 years old. She lives in Haut-Vienne, in a small apartment on the eighth floor, after the death of her husband. “It was very hot, it was suffocating” he breathes, still stunned by the heavy atmosphere of the last days. It is impossible to afford him a good house with a small pension.
“I told myself it was more serious than in my youth or even in 2003.
Joel, 74 years old, tenant of a small apartment in Upper Vienne.
“The sun hits the windows directly, the stairwell keeps all the heat in, it’s unbearable.“But, farmer’s daughter, Joel is used to the heat, isn’t it?”do not be afraid», but”it’s different there“. “I have the impression that it is more serious than in my youth or even in 2003“. The young grandmother has never been passionate about the climate, but today she fears for her two grandchildren. “I understood that it was urgent.»
Changing daily habits
Dressed in a skimpy bodysuit, Leonor is barely three weeks old. From the first hours of her life, the little girl was hot, very hot. In front of the cradle, where he is gently placed, the cloth constantly wet by his parents is meant to refresh him. “We try to get some air, we take him to the shops at least once a day to cool down his body temperatureexplains Etienne, her father. An engineer in Lyon, he is aware of climate issues. “I can’t say that I wasn’t aware, but I wasn’t paying attention. he continues. But when we become parents, our perception of the world changes. We no longer think only for ourselves, but for future generations.»
“I can’t say that I wasn’t aware, but I didn’t pay attention,” he continues. But when we become parents, our perception of the world changes. We no longer think only for ourselves, but for future generations. »
Etienne, an engineer from Lyon, father of a three-week-old child.
His wife Astrid was also thinking about the future. “Will our daughter still be able to live in the city? Will he be able to discover the coastline we know today? Will he know the richness of the fauna and flora we love?Many uncertainties that prompted the young couple to think about a number of ecological measures. Ensure the best respect for the seasons, feed Leonor organic vegetables, limit their water consumption… And cancel their annual grand cruise to Cyprus. “We’ve been dreaming about it for months, but does it really make sense? Two hours by plane, polluting boat, nice hotels with swimming pool…Instead, the young couple envisioned going to the seaside for two weeks…but in Brittany.
Small efforts that Marie also wants to believe. “It’s a drop in the ocean, as long as the United States and China continue to pollute, we can tell ourselves it’s worth the effort. he misses out. But actually we can improve things locally in France or Europe.“Despite his pronounced taste for shopping, the Parisian wants.move to avoid wasting and buying poor quality“. He plans to limit unnecessary shopping sprees, promote second hand, stop flying and use only good meat.
“Heat creates ecological nonsense»
Unlike Marie, thirty-year-old Gaetan from Paris believes that it is too late for small individual decisions and that mass action is needed to limit global warming to one additional degree. For him, repeated heat waves are only a call for radical change. “The heat wave creates ecological nonsense. he analyzes rigorously. When we are too hot, we seek coolness, even if it means producing it ourselves with an air conditioner or other energy-consuming means.
After studying finance, Gaetan switched to environmental engineering. “We need to find other ways to cool down than running artificial coolers or creating lakes out of nowhere.The spread of extreme events, such as heat waves, can have two adverse effects on environmental conservation, according to him. “People can get discouraged, tell themselves it’s no longer useful, and just enjoy the planet as it is. he explains. And when this principle is accepted, people will consume more and therefore accelerate the already well-developed warming.»
“You have to believe it,” Marie continues. Otherwise, it will not be a hot week, but two whole months. »
Marie, a 25-year-old Parisian.
To avoid this, Etienne and Astrid plan to redo their insulation. Joel, he is content with traditional methods, closing the shutters during the day, opening them at night, and creating a project in his small 26 m2 apartment.2:. “you have to believe Mary continues. Otherwise, it will not be a hot week, but two whole months.»
Source: Le Figaro
