From agriculture to nuclear power: The impact of France’s heatwave

FRANCE 24 English

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00:00 Since last week, France has been suffocating under an intense heatwave that's hit the country

00:05 surprisingly late.

00:07 Since 1947, there have been only six heatwaves to have hit this late in August, all of them

00:12 in the last 20 years.

00:14 And according to specialists, this signals heatwaves are now getting longer due to climate

00:18 change.

00:19 "Before 2000, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees less than once a year.

00:24 So to see a late heatwave like this one, occurring after August 15th, it fits in perfectly with

00:30 the context and dynamics of global warming."

00:33 Whilst the threats of forest fires and to human health are increasingly evident, the

00:38 heatwave also has consequences across multiple sectors, particularly dangerous in agricultural

00:44 regions.

00:45 This time of year marks the end of the crop cycle, where harvest generally begins.

00:49 But with temperatures as high as 43 degrees Celsius, crops are left weaker, with leaves

00:54 turning brown and fruit overripening.

00:57 Dairy cows are also particularly sensitive to high temperatures, which could cause them

01:01 to lose 5 to 10 percent of their yield.

01:05 According to the French Geological and Mining Research Bureau, 72 percent of water tables

01:10 were still below seasonal normals as of last month, with the heatwave likely to exacerbate

01:15 drought.

01:16 As nearly 90 communes are currently without drinking water, the French government has

01:20 launched restrictions on water use, including aiding industrial sites to reduce the amount

01:25 used in operations and curbs on personal usage.

01:29 To cool their reactors, power plants normally pump lake and river water before releasing

01:34 the hot water into the local environment.

01:36 However, with soaring outside temperatures, bodies of water also get warmer.

01:41 And mixed with the searing water from the power stations, this has harmful consequences

01:45 for biodiversity.

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