As Europe’s record-breaking heat wave continues and excess deaths in France climb past 1,300, a Paris official has accused Americans of bearing significant responsibility for the crisis due to emissions and air conditioning.
Audrey Pulvar, Paris’ deputy mayor for international relations, criticized American tourists and social media influencers who mocked the city for its lack of widespread air conditioning as temperatures soared above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. In an Instagram post, she wrote: “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!”
Pulvar argued that the United States, which she claims is the world’s second-largest greenhouse gas emitter, bears a “significant amount of responsibility” for warming driving the crisis. She noted American cities are roughly 90% air-conditioned and urged Americans to “just start doing your part.”
According to Sante Publique France, France has recorded at least 1,300 excess deaths since June 21, with officials warning the count could rise.
