When heat strikes: an analysis of heat health action plans in the Netherlands and France, and the role of the European Union

In the summer of 2003, heatwaves were blamed for 70,000 deaths throughout Europe (Robine et al., 2008). Since the 1980s, heatwaves and cold waves have been blamed for over 90,000 fatalities across Europe (Feyen et al., 2020). In my research paper, I aim to analyse and compare the HHAPs (heat-health action plans) of France and the Netherlands. These two countries have some of the highest rates of heat-related deaths and are already seeing negative effects of heatwaves within their borders. Both countries have developed HHAPs which can be seen as a tool for risk communication, which is a tool for communicating and mitigating the risks of climate change, health, and similar risk-related disasters. My research is inspired by the Supportive Risk Awareness and Communication to Reduce the impact of the Cross-Border Heatwaves (SORCH) project (see Vanderplanken, 2021). The study concluded that further research is needed on this topic from the fifteen NHHAPs they studied. In this RP, I apply a theoretical framework on public policy instruments of carrots (economic incentives), sticks (laws), and sermons (information-based) and the theories decentralisation and political culture. The main research question is: ‘To what extent do the Dutch and French National Heat Plans reflect dominant assumptions and best practices in public policy instrument mixes (sticks, carrots, and sermons)?’To answer the research question, I conducted a desk review of the HHAPs and several interviews with relevant civil servants.