As heatwaves become more frequent and intense across France and Europe, French retailers and shopping centres are mobilising through the new “Escale fraîcheur” initiative.
Led by Perifem, the scheme will allow participating stores and shopping centres to offer people a cooling break during heatwave alerts, with access to cooled spaces, seating, drinking water and support from staff where available.
The first groups joining the initiative include Carrefour, Coopérative U, IKEA, B&M, Mercialys, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Altarea Commerce.
We applaud and commend this initiative.
Because retail is not only about transactions.
It is also about proximity.
Community.
Practical support.
And being useful when people need help most.
This is especially important for vulnerable people, including the elderly, isolated residents, families in overheated homes and anyone without access to a cool space during extreme temperatures.
Perifem’s own research shows that 87% of French people believe retail outlets could welcome the public during climate-related events, including by acting as places of refuge during heatwaves.
That says a lot about the role physical retail can play in a changing climate.
Stores and shopping centres are part of the local fabric. They are present in city centres, neighbourhoods, suburban areas and rural communities. When they open their doors not just to customers, but to citizens, they become something bigger than retail spaces.
They become part of the resilience infrastructure.
A wonderful example of responsible, human and locally rooted retail.