The Talking France podcast interrupts its summer break with a special episode on the wildfires raging across the country - why is this fire season so severe, how is it affecting daily life and travel, and are France's political leaders finally waking up to the worsening climate crisis?
Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's Emma Pearson and John Lichfield for a look at the current situation in France with wildfires and what the month of August could look like.
You can find the Talking France podcast on Spotify, Apple or the French platform Deezer or on World Radio Paris. You can download it here or listen to the full episode on the link below.
It's been a terrible summer for wildfires in France. By July 29th, 92,000 hectares have burned and more than 200,000 people, including thousands of tourists, have been evacuated.
As well as the latest from the fire zones, we're also looking at which services may be disrupted by the wildfires - from road closures and train cancellations to postal deliveries.
We then look at the key safety precautions to take, including wearing FFP2 masks to protect yourself against smoke, and following general advice and instructions issued by local authorities.
Politics expert John Lichfield examines whether France's political leaders will finally wake up to the worsening climate crisis that is the ultimate cause of these fires.
He discusses how politicians have responded to the escalating wildfires, drought and extreme heat, and asks whether the current summer will mark a turning point in the country's approach to climate change.
Finally, we wrap up this special episode with some essential French vocabulary to help you understand official updates if you're in or near a wildfire-affected area, so you can stay informed and follow the situation as it develops.
This is a special episode, the Talking France podcast is back to taking a break for the summer but will be back at the end of August just in time for la rentrée! You can catch up on our back catalogue here, and meanwhile the team at The Local will continue to update the website with all the latest news and information from France over the summer.
