France announces plans to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions

Issuance of: 23/05/2023 – 08:18

The roadmap presented by Prime Minister Elisabeth Born contains detailed figures for cuts in individual sectors of the economy, from transport to households.

Goal – From accelerating the transition to Electric car Alternatively, switching freight from roads to rivers aims to align France’s ambition to reduce carbon pollution with the EU’s 2030 target.

France has so far reduced emissions by 25% compared to 1990 levels, and significant new efforts are needed to reach the new 50% target.

centrist government of the president Emmanuel Macron With memories still fresh of the 2018 fuel tax and vehicle emission law hikes that sparked nationwide protests, the company is wary of provoking consumers with costly initiatives.

The so-called “yellow vest” rebellion against Macron began in small and medium-sized towns and rural areas where locals felt punished for using a car when other means of transport were unavailable.

“We are asking for a little help from the smallest[polluters]and a lot from the largest,” a Mr Born aide told reporters, adding that about half of the efforts were from companies and a quarter. This means that one-fourth of the households will be local governments.

Climate change concerns have climbed onto the political agenda in the past 12 months, with the country experiencing its hottest year since records began last year, with rivers drying up, crops dying and widespread water shortages. is occurring.

A nationwide record winter drought in January and February has also led to concerns about water supplies this summer.

Macron and climate change

Admitting that he was slow to grasp the scale of the global environmental problem, Macron promised to put climate change at the heart of his second term, which starts in May 2022.

He promised to make France the first major country to give up fossil fuels and gave Born an additional role to plan the transition to the environment.

But the 45-year-old former investment bankerHe was ridiculed by environmental groups and Green Party lawmakers as being too late, prompting criticism on Wednesday when he called for a “pause” of the EU environmental bill.

The UK, among other developed countries, has the most ambitious short-term target of any major country, with a target of 2030 emissions 68% below 1990 levels.

The United States has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030, while Germany has set a target of 65% reduction from 1990 levels.

The UN Climate Science Commission said the world must cut emissions by 43% over the next decade. Paris The global warming limit of the agreement is 1.5°C.

‘ (with newswire)