French government presents its decarbonisation plan to meet EU targets

(EurActiv, 23 May 2023) Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne unveiled detailed plans on Monday (22 May) for France to meet the EU’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 55% below 1990 levels by 2030.

France’s target until now was to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030, a goal that was no longer in line with the EU’s revised climate objective.

To align with the EU’s 55% target, France will thus have to reduce emissions from 408 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent to 270 mtCO2e, the French government said.

To meet this target, Borne presented objectives for the main sectors of the economy to the National Council for Ecological Transition, a body that gives its opinion before parliament votes on energy and environmental legislation.

Replacing electric cars with the combustion engine alternative will reduce the most greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector – 11 million tonnes less of the 37 million expected by 2030 – Borne’s plan states.

In 2022, according to Citepa data, the transport sector was the largest emitter in France (129 mtCO2e), ahead of agriculture (81 mtCO2e), industry (72 mtCO2e), construction (64 mtCO2e), and energy (47 mtCO2e).

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EurActiv, 23 May 2023: French government presents its decarbonisation plan to meet EU targets