This summer, Europe experienced its hottest season ever recorded, with France witnessing temperatures that shocked many. Nearly half of the country saw temperatures exceed 40°C at least once. The summer of 2026 became the hottest in French history, breaking several temperature records in September. Scientists note that while the average annual temperature in France has risen from 11.82°C between 1960 and 1990 to 12.97°C between 1990 and 2020, extreme weather events are reshaping how people understand climate change, making it less abstract and more immediate. Climatologist Christine Berne explains that the gradual increase in average temperatures is difficult for people to notice, as they tend to focus more on extreme weather events. A 2019 study published in the journal Sustainability Science found that it can take only about five years for unusual temperatures to become normalized. This phenomenon is often compared to the "boiled frog" effect, where a frog gradually adapts to increasing heat and fails to notice the danger until it is too late. Geographers and biologists alike note that people tend to normalize climate-related changes quickly. This is further complicated by the "reference change" effect, where individuals compare current conditions to a recent past rather than a longer historical timeframe. This can make it harder to recognize significant environmental shifts. Biologist Daniel Pauly highlights that this normalization can prevent people from fully grasping the scale of climate change. Maintaining awareness of global warming is crucial, according to researcher George Adamson. He emphasizes the importance of certain seasonal changes in preserving a "climate memory," such as snow no longer falling on holidays or autumn leaves changing color earlier. Cultural events, like the music festival Hellfest, also serve as climate markers. Temperatures at the event have risen dramatically over the years, from 27°C in 2017 to 40°C in 2026. The media play a key role in reminding the public of the abnormality of extreme temperatures, pointing out that the summer of 2026 would have been nearly impossible without the large-scale burning of fossil fuels and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the health impacts of the heatwaves—preliminary figures suggest 7,300 deaths—there has been little public reaction, surprising epidemiologist Kévin Jean. Eco-mayor David Belliard has proposed the creation of a memorial and a day of commemoration for victims of heatwaves to raise awareness. Climatologist Christine Berne stresses the need to maintain a climate memory to understand past differences in water availability, summer heat, and overall quality of life. Agroclimatologist Serge Zaka warns that the normalization of extreme weather events may be one of the most dangerous aspects of climate change, as ecosystems continue to suffer even if people no longer perceive the changes.