Environmental Sustainability
#8Key Findings
France receives high rankings in international comparison (rank 8) in the area of environmental sustainability.
A reliance on nuclear energy has led to relatively low CO2 emissions. Laws passed in 2019 aim for climate neutrality by 2050 and a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030. Independent observers reported in 2022 that the country was behind schedule on reaching its goals.
France has experienced greater-than-average temperature increases, highlighting its vulnerability to climate change. Environmental health issues have not been a strong policy priority. The country has a strong record of protecting terrestrial biomes and marine areas. Species protection has been hampered by the agricultural sector’s strong political influence.
The country played a major role in the negotiations leading to the 2015 Paris Agreement. However, it is not on track to meet the net-zero emissions target by 2050, despite its strong international commitments.
A reliance on nuclear energy has led to relatively low CO2 emissions. Laws passed in 2019 aim for climate neutrality by 2050 and a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030. Independent observers reported in 2022 that the country was behind schedule on reaching its goals.
France has experienced greater-than-average temperature increases, highlighting its vulnerability to climate change. Environmental health issues have not been a strong policy priority. The country has a strong record of protecting terrestrial biomes and marine areas. Species protection has been hampered by the agricultural sector’s strong political influence.
The country played a major role in the negotiations leading to the 2015 Paris Agreement. However, it is not on track to meet the net-zero emissions target by 2050, despite its strong international commitments.
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How committed is the government to the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
France’s specific energy mix, with its strong reliance on nuclear energy, explains the country’s comparatively low levels of CO2 production. France is the 10th biggest greenhouse gas emitter in the OECD in absolute terms, but the sixth-lowest in per capita terms or per unit of GDP.
In 2019, France passed the laws on Energy and Climate with the advertised goals of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and seeking a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. While criticism of climate action is important, there was an effective reduction in CO2 emissions in 2022 following an increase in 2021. This was partly due to the increase in fuel prices in the context of the Ukraine war, as well as to a relatively warm winter; these factors led consumers to use less fuel for transport and heating. Paradoxically, there was an increase in CO2 emissions in the energy sector at the same time, mainly due to technical difficulties encountered in nuclear energy production resulting from aging infrastructure. Emissions in the transport sector have similarly increased without reaching pre-COVID levels for the time being.
The Haut Conseil pour le Climat, an independent executive body, issued a critical opinion in July 2022, arguing that France was falling behind its advertised goals. More specifically, the council argued that out of the 25 goals contained in the national low-carbon strategy, only six have been associated with adequate implementation measures. The council also criticized the share of the national budget devoted to climate measuers, and the decreasing support for climate change mitigation policies.
The council called for enhanced planning, improved reduction of greenhouse gases, better support for a transition toward a low-carbon economy, and a stronger mobilization of French diplomatic functions around the issue of climate change. The transformation of private transport patterns was also important, it said.
Regarding adaptation, 2022 showed that France is particularly exposed to the consequences of climate change, but is insufficiently prepared. The country is experiencing a higher-than-average temperature increase (1.9°C compared to 1.15 worldwide).
Citations:
OECD. 2023. Environment at a Glance.
European Environmental Agency. 2020. “France Country Profile - SDGs and the Environment.”
CITEPA. 2023. “Gaz à effet de serre et polluants atmosphériques. Bilan des émissions en France de 1990 à 2022.” Rapport Secten.
Haut Conseil pour le Climat. 2022. 4e rapport annuel pour le climat.
Haut Conseil pour le Climat. 2023. 5e rapport annuel pour le climat.
In 2019, France passed the laws on Energy and Climate with the advertised goals of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and seeking a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. While criticism of climate action is important, there was an effective reduction in CO2 emissions in 2022 following an increase in 2021. This was partly due to the increase in fuel prices in the context of the Ukraine war, as well as to a relatively warm winter; these factors led consumers to use less fuel for transport and heating. Paradoxically, there was an increase in CO2 emissions in the energy sector at the same time, mainly due to technical difficulties encountered in nuclear energy production resulting from aging infrastructure. Emissions in the transport sector have similarly increased without reaching pre-COVID levels for the time being.
The Haut Conseil pour le Climat, an independent executive body, issued a critical opinion in July 2022, arguing that France was falling behind its advertised goals. More specifically, the council argued that out of the 25 goals contained in the national low-carbon strategy, only six have been associated with adequate implementation measures. The council also criticized the share of the national budget devoted to climate measuers, and the decreasing support for climate change mitigation policies.
The council called for enhanced planning, improved reduction of greenhouse gases, better support for a transition toward a low-carbon economy, and a stronger mobilization of French diplomatic functions around the issue of climate change. The transformation of private transport patterns was also important, it said.
Regarding adaptation, 2022 showed that France is particularly exposed to the consequences of climate change, but is insufficiently prepared. The country is experiencing a higher-than-average temperature increase (1.9°C compared to 1.15 worldwide).
Citations:
OECD. 2023. Environment at a Glance.
European Environmental Agency. 2020. “France Country Profile - SDGs and the Environment.”
CITEPA. 2023. “Gaz à effet de serre et polluants atmosphériques. Bilan des émissions en France de 1990 à 2022.” Rapport Secten.
Haut Conseil pour le Climat. 2022. 4e rapport annuel pour le climat.
Haut Conseil pour le Climat. 2023. 5e rapport annuel pour le climat.
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How committed is the government to protecting the public from environmental health risks?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
Environment-related issues do not currently appear to be at the top of the political agenda. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail; ANSES) lists environmental health as one of its main goals. France’s national plan for environmental health (NPEH) identifies several central goals. The fourth NPEH covers the period from 2021 to 2025 and pursues four different goals: 1) improving information and training to help citizens identify exposure risk and adopt the right precautions; 2) reducing citizen exposure to environmental risks affecting health – this includes air quality, noise and parasites such as bedbugs, which have been high on the public agenda in the past few years; 3) expanding the action of local political authorities – the idea is to encourage and support local initiatives; and 4) improving the understanding of the links between health and the environment.
For the time being, this policy has remained largely exploratory. Few resources are effectively committed to environmental health. Mostly, such activities are integrated either into health or environmental policies.
This is confirmed by a variety of indicators. France ranks around the OECD average on most relevant indicators, including exposure to particulate matter and ozone. Drinking water quality is particularly worrisome in some parts of the country due to years of uncontrolled soil pollution through intensive agriculture. While there is growing awareness of these issues, policy remains reticent at best.
For the time being, this policy has remained largely exploratory. Few resources are effectively committed to environmental health. Mostly, such activities are integrated either into health or environmental policies.
This is confirmed by a variety of indicators. France ranks around the OECD average on most relevant indicators, including exposure to particulate matter and ozone. Drinking water quality is particularly worrisome in some parts of the country due to years of uncontrolled soil pollution through intensive agriculture. While there is growing awareness of these issues, policy remains reticent at best.
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How committed is the government to preserving ecosystems and protecting biodiversity?
10
9
9
The government is clearly committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
8
7
6
7
6
The government is largely committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
5
4
3
4
3
The government is only somewhat committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
2
1
1
The government is not at all committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
France has a long-standing commitment to biodiversity preservation and restoration. It is the EU country with the largest area of protected terrestrial and marine territory in the EU. Some of its national parks have existed since the first half of the 20th century.
In 2020, the French Biodiversity Agency was created. Its task is to coordinate policy efforts regarding the protection of the environment. It is also supposed to collect primary data and engage in further research in the area of biodiversity. Finally, its experts are tasked with supporting policymaking, while also providing support to the managers of protected spaces and other societal actors. It is too early to evaluate this new agency’s performance, but it has been furnished with significant financial and human resources, resulting mostly from the reorganization of preexisting agencies and services.
Compared to other OECD countries, France does extremely well with respect to protecting terrestrial biomes and marine areas. The situation is much more complicated with regard to the use of sustainable pesticides. This is due to the difficulty of reorienting the agricultural sector toward more sustainable modes of production. Similarly, species protection is also comparatively weak in France. The enduring political influence of agricultural producers is clearly a brake to progress in this area, despite the periodic determination shown by members of the French executive.
In 2020, the French Biodiversity Agency was created. Its task is to coordinate policy efforts regarding the protection of the environment. It is also supposed to collect primary data and engage in further research in the area of biodiversity. Finally, its experts are tasked with supporting policymaking, while also providing support to the managers of protected spaces and other societal actors. It is too early to evaluate this new agency’s performance, but it has been furnished with significant financial and human resources, resulting mostly from the reorganization of preexisting agencies and services.
Compared to other OECD countries, France does extremely well with respect to protecting terrestrial biomes and marine areas. The situation is much more complicated with regard to the use of sustainable pesticides. This is due to the difficulty of reorienting the agricultural sector toward more sustainable modes of production. Similarly, species protection is also comparatively weak in France. The enduring political influence of agricultural producers is clearly a brake to progress in this area, despite the periodic determination shown by members of the French executive.
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To what extent is the government committed and credible in designing and promoting global environmental protection regimes and policies?
10
9
9
Government policy and institutions are fully aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
8
7
6
7
6
Government policy and institutions are largely aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
5
4
3
4
3
Government policy and institutions are somewhat aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
2
1
1
Government policy and institutions are not at all aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
France was a key player in the negotiations that led to the Paris Agreement, the landmark climate agreement adopted by the United Nations in 2015. The Paris Agreement has become the main reference point in international climate governance. After coming to power in 2017, President Macron repeatedly pledged his attachment to the Paris Agreement.
According to government figures, France provided €7.6 billion in climate finance in 2022 (€2.6 billion of which was for adaptation), exceeding its target of €6 billion. The French government has also contributed to the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative – an early warning system for vulnerable countries. The French development aid agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), was among the first development banks to align with the Paris Agreement.
Despite these figures, France, like the United Kingdom and other countries, is not on track to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Moreover, given France’s leadership in the past, its current hesitations may weigh heavier than those of other countries in the international arena.
According to government figures, France provided €7.6 billion in climate finance in 2022 (€2.6 billion of which was for adaptation), exceeding its target of €6 billion. The French government has also contributed to the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative – an early warning system for vulnerable countries. The French development aid agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), was among the first development banks to align with the Paris Agreement.
Despite these figures, France, like the United Kingdom and other countries, is not on track to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Moreover, given France’s leadership in the past, its current hesitations may weigh heavier than those of other countries in the international arena.