A French politician, Audrey Pulvar, has blamed the United States for a deadly heatwave in Europe that caused over 1,000 excess deaths in France. Pulvar pointed out that only 20% of European homes have air conditioning versus 90% in the US, and argued that America's high carbon emissions significantly contribute to global warming. The US is the world's second-largest CO2 emitter at 13% of global emissions, and saw coal consumption rise 10% last year. Experts from World Weather Attribution said the extreme temperatures would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change. The article highlights the link between high-emitting nations and extreme weather impacts in other regions, raising questions about responsibility and adaptation funding. It also touches on the AC gap as both a vulnerability and an emissions driver.
