The summer of 2026 in France was the hottest on record, with an average temperature of 24°C, surpassing the previous record set in 2003, which was 23.1°C. According to Météo-France, the temperature anomaly for the summer was +3.6°C above the seasonal average, compared to +2.7°C in 2003 and +2.3°C in 2022. When compared to the pre-industrial era, the difference rises to +5°C, with 2.4°C directly linked to human-induced climate change. Météo-France explicitly states that such extreme heat would have been nearly impossible without the impact of human activity on the climate. During the summer of 2026, the temperature of 40°C was reached 178 times, more than double the number recorded in 2003, when it was crossed 88 times. The summer also included 53 days classified as heatwaves, leading to widespread drought and the largest area burned by wildfires ever recorded in France. In response, the Minister of Ecological Transition called for all public policies and state-funded projects to systematically integrate the assumption of a +4°C warming trajectory, reflecting the expected future climate of France. The +4°C warming trajectory is not a random figure—it is the reference used by France to plan for its future climate. When the 2026 summer data is plotted on this curve, it shows that what was once a record has now become an ordinary average. This season will be remembered not only for its intensity but also for its duration, with 53 days of heatwaves and an average temperature of 24.0°C over 24 hours. Nearly 90% of the country experienced at least one day with temperatures of 35°C or higher, and 45% saw temperatures exceeding 40°C. The summer also began with an early and intense heatwave in June, the strongest since 1947, which led to 72 departments being placed on red alert. The implications of such extreme weather are far-reaching. The combination of high temperatures and prolonged dry spells caused widespread drought across the country. Additionally, the summer of 2026 saw the largest area burned by wildfires ever recorded, highlighting how extreme heat can permanently weaken ecosystems, water supplies, and agricultural productivity. If summers like 2026 become the new normal, it will require significant changes in how France manages its agriculture, water resources, and public health. What was once an isolated emergency now demands long-term, structural adaptation. In light of these developments, the Minister of Ecological Transition has stressed the need for a complete rethinking of public policy. She argues that all future policies and state-funded projects must take into account the new climatic reality, ensuring that every investment considers the impact of a warmer future. This approach underscores the idea that climate adaptation must become a fundamental part of policy planning, rather than an afterthought.