Abstract

This paper assesses the effect of extreme heat on mortality using monthly data for French municipalities over the period 1980-2019. I show that extreme heat significantly increases the mortality rate, especially for people aged over 80.  I also show that the impact of heat decreased after the major heatwave of 2003 due to the public and private measures that followed. I show that days over 30°C are 7 times less deadly after 2003 for the over-80s. I also show that the most densely populated municipalities are more sensitive to heatwaves. I show that municipalities located in regions with the highest rates of air-conditioning equipment are significantly less sensitive to heat waves. Finally, I estimate the future trend in the number of heat-related deaths each year due to climate change.

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