FOCUS ON – NET-ZERO
HOW CLOSE IS FRANCE TO ITS CLIMATE GOALS? From emissions to legislation, the third instalment of “The Road to Net-Zero” takes us to Europe’s thirdlargest economy - France. by Ash Jones
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rance appears to be lagging behind other major European nations when it comes to its commitments to net-zero emissions. Having set itself an interim goal of reducing emissions by 2030, Europe’s third-largest economy may yet struggle to reach its goals. The European Union has made great strides in climate reductions over the past year. In the wake of the COP26 summit in November, many nations made their climate goals more ambitious, although watchdogs such as Climate Action Tracker still consider the bloc’s targets to be “insufficient.” As a signatory of the Paris Climate Agreement, France has pledged to be net-zero by 2050 in a bid to keep the global temperature from increasing by more than 1.5°C and has enshrined these targets into law. However, these targets only target pure emissions reductions and are currently not seeking to reduce 18 Industry Europe
emissions intensity, and while carbon removal is a goal, specific details have not been given. The government has referred to “carbon sinks” in its climate plans, going into detail about how carbon can be removed from the air through absorption by forests, with little information on carbon capture and storage (CCS) tech. In addition, the state has yet to offer a complete, detailed plan as to how climate goals will be achieved. France’s biggest advantage in the energy transition is its relatively low-carbon energy mix, thanks in part to its large nuclear energy fleet - the second highest in the world, next to the US. 70% of the country’s energy comes from nuclear power. However, its nuclear capacity is ageing and the nation is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
It is also apparently the third-largest producer of hydropower, behind Norway and Turkey, thanks to its access to the Alps. Hydropower has been considered to be a “forgotten giant” and could play a strong role in the energy transition. Hydropower reportedly generated around 10% of the country’s electricity, according to EDF. The French government’s official climate roadmap was unveiled by Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, Nicolas Hoult on 6 July 2017. In it, French officials have pledged to make urban mobility greener, eradicate fuel poverty by 2027, make strides in energy responsibility, move towards a circular economy and bolster green hydrogen, although little detail was given as to how.
