Monique Barbut, the former head of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, has been following crisis meetings on the ongoing wildfires in southern France from her secondary residence in the Var department, after her resignation from a key environmental post was canceled by the French government.
According to verified reports, Barbut had submitted her resignation from her role as president of the French Biodiversity Office (OFB) in early July 2026, citing disagreements over government policy. However, the resignation was rejected by the Ministry of Ecological Transition on July 15, 2026, allowing her to continue in her position.
Since then, Barbut has been participating in virtual crisis meetings regarding the wildfires that have been ravaging the Var region since July 20, 2026. She has been coordinating with local authorities from her home in the area, which has been directly affected by the fires.
The wildfires have burned over 5,000 hectares of forest and forced the evacuation of several villages. Barbut's involvement has been praised by some environmental groups, though critics question the effectiveness of remote participation during a crisis.
