France – Addressing the Challenge of Climate Change

Benefiting from more than 50 years of experience in nuclear electricity generation, the French nuclear industry has emerged as one of the world leaders. Existing nuclear power stations and new plant projects contribute to reducing the already low level of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions of the French energy sector.

Facts : France is one of the greenest economies in Europe, a situation resulting from policies adopted as early as the 1970s. The 1973 oil shock resulted in France in a series of State policies aiming at enhancing energy efficiency and reducing France’s dependence on imported oil and gas. These policies have been carried out and improved for the last 40 years, and in 2007, with the The Grenelle de l’Environnement, France confirms its commitment to green its economy.

It might be true of Copenhagen or Vancouver, but “green” isn’t the first adjective that springs to mind when one thinks of Paris. That may soon change says French journalist Josette Sicsic. “The French always take a long time to be convinced of something. We have a rebellious nature. Then all of a sudden, there’s a collective intelligence. Ecological awareness has been a long time coming, but in less than two years, we’ve caught up; now we’re as mindful of the problem as the Scandinavians or Germans.”