Heatwave shock as France turns to Spain to learn how to survive 40º heat

When temperatures push into the high 30s and 40ºC range, much of Europe tends to slow down, grind to a halt, or struggle to cope. But in Spain, life continues in a way that is now catching the attention of neighbouring France, where officials are reportedly preparing to visit Spain to learn how the country manages extreme heat.

The idea is that Spain could offer practical lessons on adapting to increasingly intense summers, particularly in cities where extreme heat has become a regular feature rather than an exception. At the centre of that interest is Madrid, where even at 40ºC, the city continues to function.

France looks to Spain as heatwaves intensify across Europe

The French government is preparing a study visit to Spain to better understand how public services, infrastructure and daily routines cope with extreme heat. The move reflects growing concern in France about how to adapt to rising temperatures, particularly in urban areas where heatwaves are becoming more disruptive to transport, workplaces and public health systems.

Rather than focusing purely on emergency response, French officials are said to be interested in how Spain has gradually adapted its way of life, from working patterns to public behaviour, in order to function during prolonged periods of extreme heat. Spain, especially cities like Madrid, Sevilla and Córdoba, has long experience of dealing with summer temperatures that regularly exceed 35ºC and often reach or surpass 40ºC.

Madrid’s ability to function in 40ºC heat draws attention

The reference point repeatedly highlighted is Madrid itself, where summer heatwaves are now a familiar part of life rather than an exceptional event. Despite extreme temperatures, the city continues to operate with offices open, public transport running, and daily routines largely maintained, albeit adjusted for the conditions.

Life does not stop during heatwaves; instead, it shifts. That includes later working hours in some sectors, extended evening activity, widespread use of air conditioning in public spaces, and cultural habits such as avoiding peak afternoon heat. It is this combination of infrastructure and lifestyle adjustment that is believed to be attracting international interest.

What France hopes to learn from Spain

The focus is expected to be on practical adaptation strategies, local media reports that French officials want to examine how Spain manages:

• Public health responses during extreme heat 
• Urban planning and cooling strategies in cities 
• Work patterns and labour adjustments during heatwaves 
• Transport and infrastructure resilience 
• Communication with the public during heat alerts 

The aim is not to replicate Spain’s climate or geography, but to understand how systems can remain functional under sustained heat stress. As heatwaves become more common across southern and central Europe, governments are increasingly looking at cross-border learning rather than developing strategies in isolation.

Heatwaves becoming a shared European challenge

The interest from France comes as heatwaves are no longer confined to traditionally hotter southern regions. Countries such as France, Germany and the Netherlands have all experienced record-breaking summer temperatures in recent years, leading to increased pressure on hospitals, transport systems and energy grids.

Spain is often viewed as a country that has had longer experience dealing with extreme heat conditions and has gradually built infrastructure and habits around it. This does not mean Spain is unaffected by heatwaves, far from it, but rather that adaptation has become part of everyday life over time.

Why Spain is being used as a reference point

Part of the reason Spain is attracting attention is because of how normalised extreme heat has become in many regions. In cities like Madrid, temperatures above 35ºC are not unusual during summer months, and 40ºC days are increasingly common. Over time, this has influenced how cities operate, from shaded public spaces to adjusted working hours and increased reliance on cooling systems.

A growing change in how Europe prepares for heat

As climate patterns continue to change, European countries are beginning to treat heatwaves with the same seriousness traditionally reserved for cold-weather emergencies. The reported French interest in Spain highlights a wider shift: learning how societies adapt, rather than only how they respond in crisis.

Whether through infrastructure, policy or daily habits, the focus is increasingly on resilience. And for Spain, long used to high summer temperatures, that experience is now being watched more closely than ever by its European neighbours.