Paris rooftops hit 70°C as zinc roofs spark heatwave debate

Historic zinc rooftops that cover about four‑fifths of the Paris skyline can reach temperatures of up to 70 °C during the current heatwave, making upper‑floor apartments nearly uninhabitable. Residents in the small top‑floor units, often occupied by low‑income tenants, have posted videos cooking eggs on the hot metal.

Deputy mayor for ecological transition Dan Lert said a heritage office has blocked roughly one‑third of proposals aimed at protecting buildings from extreme heat, citing strict preservation rules. The debate now centres on whether to install air‑conditioning units on façades—a measure supported by right‑leaning politicians as necessary, but opposed by many left‑wing officials who label it a criminal and environmentally harmful act. Studies cited warn that such units add noise and heat to the urban environment. The controversy highlights the tension between preserving Paris’s historic architecture and adapting the city to climate change.