« Ecology in Paris is primarily a public health policy ». While presenting his project for 2026, Emmanuel Grégoire adopts a clear approach : to speed up the transformation initiated ten years ago to tackle repeated heatwaves and pollution.
According to projections, the capital could experience peaks of 50 °C as early as 2030 and up to twenty heatwave nights per year by 2050. For the former deputy mayor of Anne Hidalgo, it’s time to change gears.
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From the ring road to the major highways, the car is still in decline
After a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over ten years and a 34% drop in road traffic, Emmanuel Grégoire's team aims to continue reducing the car's presence. A strong symbol: the ring road could become an “urban boulevard”. More open to public transport and carpooling, greening, it could eventually welcome bike lanes. Initial segments, like the Gentilly gate, would be transformed right from the start of the term.
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In the same spirit, ten major areas would be transformed into urban strolls: from Victoria Avenue to Foch Avenue, passing through Ménilmontant Boulevard and Observatory Avenue. At the same time, 1,000 new pedestrian streets would be created. The goal: to establish "calm neighborhood hubs" where people walk or cycle, while still allowing access for deliveries and residents. The gates of Paris would be reimagined as true squares, connected by a green, cultural, and sporting belt.
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Squares, parks, and little ring road: heading to the cool city
Five major squares (Concorde, Trocadéro, Italie, Stalingrad, and Gambetta) would be largely greened to become shady refuges during heatwaves. The Place de la République, often criticized for its stone dominance, would also be greened.
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The program also plans for the opening of an additional 10 kilometers of the Petite Ceinture, as well as 25 kilometers of continuous walkways along the Seine. In the east, the Port de l'Arsenal could become a swimming area, linked to the Bercy gardens. In the west, the Debilly footbridge would connect to the Concorde. It's a wonderful way to give more space to water and enhance ecological continuity in a very dense city.
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« Mobilizing Every Square Meter » Against the Heat
But the transformation doesn’t stop at public spaces. Emmanuel Grégoire wants to « think about the city in all its layers: the ground, the underground, the networks, the buildings… ». Accelerated energy renovation, widespread use of shutters in social housing, recovery of heat from data centers, harnessing rainwater, light greening of zinc roofs and deployment of photovoltaic panels : every available surface would be put to good use.
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A « big warm » plan would enhance the system: creation of cool shelters, increased connection to the Cool Network of Paris, upgrades to schools, daycare centers, and nursing homes, air conditioning using water from the Seine. A « resilience campus would finally create a citizen reserve to face climate crises. For the socialist candidate, the climate battle will be won square meter by square meter, and first on the streets.