Audrey Pulvar, the deputy mayor of Paris responsible for international relations, stated in an Instagram post that the United States bears significant responsibility for the extreme heat affecting France due to its greenhouse gas emissions and widespread reliance on air conditioning.
The comments came amid a heat wave that brought temperatures above 40°C (104°F) in parts of the country and led to reports of excess deaths.
Culver made the bizarre suggestion in a post responding to criticism from American tourists and social media users about the limited availability of air conditioning in Paris buildings. “Dear American journalists and social media ‘influencers’: for days, some of you have been criticizing and making fun of Paris because the city does not have A/C in every room … OMG, this is so rich,” she wrote.
“As the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, you bear a significant amount of responsibility for global warming and the consequences we, in France, are experiencing. Your cities, which are 90 percent air-conditioned, are not unrelated to this,” the far-left official continued.
She then highlighted Paris’ stringent “green” policies and argued that the U.S. should adopt them. “If every American city made the same ecological transition efforts as Paris and many European cities, believe me, the whole world would be better off. So please, enough with the lecture. Just start doing your part.”
France has historically maintained low rates of air conditioning adoption, with roughly 25% of households equipped with such systems, due to environmental considerations, building regulations, and cultural factors. The current heat wave has prompted renewed discussion on whether broader installation of cooling systems is needed.
Public health authorities in France reported approximately 1,000 excess deaths linked to the recent heat wave, with many involving older individuals. Preliminary figures indicated that the toll could increase as data from at-home and care facility deaths are incorporated.
Across Europe, estimates of excess deaths associated with the heat since mid-June reached around 1,300 in some reports.
The heat affected daily life and infrastructure. Hospitals in Paris experienced high demand, with reports of saturation in some facilities.
Public events faced adjustments, and authorities issued heat alerts across multiple departments, while transportation and outdoor activities were disrupted in affected areas.
