French court gives government three months to prove effective climate policy

(EurActiv, 20 Nov 2020) France’s highest legal body ruled on Thursday (19 November) that the government has three months to explain its “greenhouse gas emission reduction path”. EURACTIV France reports.

France’s highest legal entity, the Council of State, has ruled on an appeal lodged by the Grande-Synthe commune. The government now has three months to justify that the measures “permitting a reduction” in greenhouse gas emissions are on the right track – and this despite never having previously dealt with a climate dispute.

Legal drama

In January 2019, Grande-Synthe’s former mayor and now EELV MEP, Damien Carême, filed an appeal before the Council of State for “climate inaction”.

The northern conurbation near Dunkirk is facing land and sea flooding, and soon rising sea levels. To make matters worse, the area is home to several Seveso-classified industrial sites and the Gravelines nuclear power plant.

In January 2020, the appeal took a new turn when the four environmental associations that form part of “Affaire du siècle” alliance joined the municipality to support its claim that the climate measures implemented by the state are inadequate.

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EurActiv, 20 Nov 2020: French court gives government three months to prove effective climate policy