France blames US for deadly heatwave

A dispute over air conditioning has emerged alongside a severe heatwave in France, with French officials pushing back against criticism from some American journalists, tourists and social media influencers over the country's comparatively low use of cooling systems.

The exchange comes as France confronts a public health crisis linked to temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in several regions, straining emergency services and prompting renewed debate over the country's long-standing skepticism toward air conditioning, says the Telegraph.

American commentators have mocked France's ability to cope with extreme heat, pointing to figures showing that only around one in four French households has air conditioning.

Audrey Pulvar, Paris's deputy mayor for international relations, responded by arguing that the United States bears a "significant amount of responsibility" for the global warming contributing to increasingly severe heat events.

Pulvar said criticism from Americans was "so rich," adding that high levels of air-conditioning use in U.S. cities, where roughly 90% of homes are cooled, are "not unrelated" to the climate crisis.

She defended Paris by citing environmental initiatives undertaken by the city and urged Americans to "start doing your part" rather than criticize France's approach.

The exchange reflects broader tensions surrounding climate adaptation measures and energy use as extreme weather events become more frequent.

Historically, France has shown skepticism toward widespread use of air conditioning. An Ipsos survey found that 78% of French people considered air conditioning harmful to the environment, with some respondents saying they would "rather suffer for the sake of the planet."

However, the intensity of the current heatwave appears to be reshaping attitudes. Retailers have reported shortages of portable air-conditioning units, while some residents have sought relief by sleeping in public parks or booking air-conditioned hotel rooms near their homes.

The heatwave's human toll has also raised concern among health authorities.

Preliminary figures indicate at least 1,000 more deaths than in previous months since the heatwave reached its peak. Deaths occurring at home have increased by 40%, according to the information provided.

Reported fatalities included a 12-year-old girl who died from heatstroke and 74 people who drowned while attempting to cool off in unauthorized areas.

Emergency services in Paris handled 3,400 calls during a 24-hour period, around four times the normal level, including 30 cardiac arrests.

Infrastructure pressures have compounded difficulties for residents. Lightning strikes and strain on power systems caused outages affecting thousands of households, disrupting access to fans, refrigerators and elevators.

Health Minister Stephanie Rist warned that the effects of the heatwave may continue after temperatures decline, noting that heat-related illnesses can emerge five to ten days after an extreme weather event, particularly among vulnerable groups and people with chronic medical conditions.

Authorities expect pressure on hospitals to continue for several weeks after temperatures ease, and Rist urged citizens to check on isolated neighbors in an effort to prevent additional deaths.