How cities in Africa are adapting to intense and deadly heat
Reflective paints, green roofs, work breaks: Many African countries are seeking innovative ways to cope with increasingly extreme temperatures.
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The Knysna lagoon during a severe drought in the Western Cape province, South Africa, on February 7, 2026. ESA ALEXANDER/REUTERS With France experiencing temperatures rivaling those seen in parts of Africa for nearly a week, will it look south to shape a real adaptation policy? In the semi-arid Sahel, where long droughts are common, it took time to realize that even more extreme situations lay ahead. But when the mercury fluctuated between 40°C and 50°C in 2024 during the hottest season – from March to May – breaking historical records across the continent, this new reality became impossible to ignore. "With peaks above 45°C in Ouagadougou, the situation got out of our control.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Le Monde (EN).
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