Claude Allègre, Former French Education Minister and Climate Change Skeptic, Dies at 87

Jan 4, 2025, 05:21 PM

Claude Allègre, former French Minister of Education and renowned geologist, died on January 4, 2025, at the age of 87. He served under Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and was known for his intent to "dégraisser le mammouth" (slim down the education system's bureaucracy). A respected scientist, Allègre was awarded the CNRS gold medal in 1994. Later in his career, he became a controversial figure due to his skepticism about climate change, becoming a prominent climate change denialist in France. He eventually left the Socialist Party to support Nicolas Sarkozy. François Bayrou paid tribute to Allègre, calling him an original thinker and praising his courage to stand "seul contre tous" (alone against all). His death was announced by his son to AFP.