European cities implement cooling plans following intense heatwaves

Following an intense 2026 summer marked by multiple heatwaves and temperatures approaching 40°C, various regions in France and Belgium are implementing measures to combat rising temperatures and urban heat islands.

In Namur, Belgium, the city has launched a ‘Plan Fraîcheur’ (Cooling Plan) to protect vulnerable populations and transform public spaces. The strategy includes mapping heat islands, increasing vegetation, installing UV-protective films in schools, and reinforcing air conditioning in nursing homes. A ‘Namur Heatwave Network’ will coordinate efforts between the city, health services, and local associations.

In France, the Agence d’Urbanisme de l’Aire Toulonnaise et du Var (AUDAT) is proposing a shift toward ‘sponge cities’ to mitigate heat in the Var department. Recommendations focus on massive revegetation, creating ecological corridors, and replacing heat-retaining materials like asphalt with permeable surfaces.

In Aubervilliers, community groups like the Comité Populaire d’Entraide et de Solidarité (CPES) have organized local solidarity efforts, such as distributing water and food, in response to what they describe as inadequate institutional responses to the heat crisis in working-class neighborhoods.