and if Toulouse and the South West have adopted the Spanish way of life by 2050
With recurrent and successive heat waves, Toulouse is one of the cities in France most affected by global warming. The weather reports are clear: it will be hot, very hot in Toulouse by the end of the century. What is inspired by the Spanish way of life to support this climate.
With 37°C mercury, Toulouse is experiencing its third heat wave of 2022. The pink city will have to get used to spending increasingly hot and dry summers in the future.
According to a scenario from Météo France, which takes into account the current measures taken to protect the environment throughout the world, Toulouse will experience 21 additional scorching nights by 2050, for an average of 34 per year.
At the same time, the city will experience 28 hot days (over 25°C) under the same climate change scenario.
These aggressive living conditions during the summer season are frightening, but our Iberian neighbors have adopted a few behaviors to better withstand the high heat. The way of life beyond the Pyrenees will, perhaps soon, be that of the south-west of France.
Generally, Spanish businesses ferment at midday only to reopen in the middle of the afternoon. The time of a cut, a lot of in-between settles and makes the siesta, a practice very applied, and recognized good for health. According to a survey from 2009, nearly 7.4 million take a nap daily. This represents 16.2% of the population.
In this way, it also ferments later than in France, and it is not surprising to see shops still open at 9 p.m. Colleges and high schools stop their classes around noon, to let students cool off.
In the enterprises, employees can also, if necessary, start earlier and finish later. Spanish labor law enshrines this possibility. From 30°C, productivity drops drastically. The Spanish Prime Minister has moreover proposed to abandon the tie at work in order to save energy.
Against this model, the European Trade Union Confederation has called, in July in a statementcompanies in Europe to offer flexible hours depending on the heat.
Running away from the sun is obviously the best thing to do when it is too aggressive. The architecture of Spanish cities has been designed to allow everyone to find shade everywhere. The Arab heritage has given Spanish town centers a myriad of narrow, winding streets, which remain in the shade all day long. An urbanization that can be found in the historic city center of French cities such as Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) or Albi (Tarn).
pour thehe most important arteries, the authorities were placed on the number of them stretched canvases. A way to create shade for passers-by, and to add to the aesthetics of the streets.
In the early afternoon, the Spanish streets look like a ghost town, and only tourists venture into the squares under a blazing sun. Conversely, they come alive as soon as the day ends, and the locals go out late into the night to enjoy a bit more freshness.
Of course, when the temperatures are warming up, the human body is asking for refreshing and low-calorie dishes.
And it shows in Spanish cuisine. The most suitable dish for the heat wave remains the gazpacho. This cold soup composed mainly of tomatoes and cucumbers is particularly appreciated by our Iberian neighbors. A way to hydrate and eat at the same time .
Also, the habit of eating small amounts is suitable for periods of high heat. The very famous tapas are offered in all Spanish restaurants, and their success is transmitted to the menus of French establishments. These preparations in small format can sustain a man in the middle of August, when an overly hearty meal would be difficult to bear.
This lifestyle, punctuated by the vagaries of the sun and the weather, gives ideas beyond the borders of Spain. According to the WHO, when the temperature exceeds 30°C, the risk of accidents at work increases by 5 to 7% and, when it exceeds 38°C, the probability of accidents increases by 10 to 15%.