Elected from the National Rally (RN), MP Thomas Ménagé spoke on Monday August 21 on the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate (IPCC). These serve as a basis for thinking about climate change. But for the far-right representative, these scientists would “sometimes tend to exaggerate”.
Asked about France Inter about his party’s doctrine in terms of ecology, the deputy called for not “stupidly following the IPCC data”, so as not to “contravene the quality of life of the French”. According to him, the role of politicians is to “temper” the reports of scientists on the climate, and in particular that of the IPCC.
A statement that follows in the footsteps of those of Marine Le Pen, who in May described the IPCC reports as “very, very alarmist”. The deputy does not question the reality of climate change, which is now part of the “everyday life” of the French, like the episode of very hot weather which is currently crossing the country, but he wishes to preserve his party from this which he calls “punitive ecology”.
The statements sparked a multitude of reactions, from the left to majority MPs, who consider them irresponsible and climatosceptic. “No wonder…the National Rally is caught in the act of climate denial!” reacted on X (ex-Twitter) the Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu, describing as “inadmissible” the questioning of scientific work.
“For this far-right deputy, we must not listen to the IPCC, because otherwise we will have to really tackle climate change,” quipped the coordinator of La France insoumise, Manuel Bompard, in reaction to the comments of Thomas Ménagé, who, according to him, advocates “criminal” inaction. “No lessons to be learned from nuclear gravediggers, followers of punitive ecology and uncontrolled free trade”, reacted Mr. Ménagé to respond to criticism, recalling that he was not questioning the reality of global warming but only the “political solutions” presented.
