A Paris deputy mayor has sparked international criticism by arguing that the United States bears “significant responsibility” for a deadly European heatwave. Reporting based on the comments attributed to Audrey Pulvar says she links the extreme temperatures to climate change and responded to what she characterized as American media and visitors criticizing France for its limited air-conditioning capacity. According to the available coverage, she rejects the idea that the focus should be on France’s infrastructure alone, and instead points to emissions originating elsewhere, including from the US, as a contributing factor to the broader climate conditions behind the heat.
Multiple outlets also note that her remarks drew backlash, with some commentators saying the attribution of blame singled out the US while overlooking other countries. The articles cited reference a death toll of about 1,300 linked to the heatwave. Other reporting mentioned France’s own estimates of excess deaths tied to May heatwaves, and the debate has centered on responsibility for climate-driven extreme weather and the fairness of public fault-finding during a crisis.
