Paris deputy mayor blames America for ‘consequences’ France is facing, demands American media to quit ‘the lecture’

Paris Deputy Mayor Audrey Pulvar released a lengthy statement blaming the United States for the deadly heat wave that hit France this past week. In her Instagram post, Pulvar said the U.S. holds a significant share of responsibility for the extreme heat affecting France.

According to Fox News, Pulvar’s statement was directed at American journalists and social media influencers who she said had been mocking Paris for not having air conditioning in every room. She argued that the criticism was unfair, given the role she says American emissions play in global warming. 

In her Instagram post, Pulvar 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!” 

Deputy mayor says American cities bear responsibility for climate-driven heat

Pulvar went on to say that the United States – as per her the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world – bears a significant amount of responsibility for global warming and the consequences France is experiencing. 

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 ‘90% air-conditioned’ are not unrelated to this. In Paris, we take responsibility.”

Pulvar, who was elected to her position in March, according to the city of Paris’s official website, said the city has taken steps to fight air pollution and carry out energy-efficient renovations. She argued that widespread use of air conditioning “contributes and aggravates the problem” of global warming. Her remarks also touch on a broader political debate in the U.S. over climate policy, including a past claim about Trump’s stance on climate change.

She closed her post by urging American cities to follow what she described as the example set by Paris and other European cities. “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. Best regards,” she wrote.

In a separate comment on the same post, Pulvar defended the policies pursued by left-leaning officials in Paris to address climate change. She wrote, “If we hadn’t done so, the situation today would be much worse. Yes, there is still much to be done. No, the situation is not ideal. But perhaps it would be more appropriate for one of the countries most responsible for the problem not to lecture those who are trying to find solutions for their own populations.”

The statement came as Paris experienced record-setting heat this past week, with temperatures climbing above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Reuters. At least 48 people in France have reportedly drowned while attempting to cool off outside designated swimming areas.

In response to the heat, French authorities have reportedly imposed alcohol restrictions in public spaces and limited large public gatherings. The country has also deployed thousands of emergency workers to help manage the impact of the heat wave, per Fox News. Extreme heat has prompted similar restrictions elsewhere, including a youth curfew reinstated in Washington D.C. 

Paris additionally reduced hours at several well-known landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, in what officials described as an effort to protect tourists from the extreme temperatures.