France – Addressing the Challenge of Climate Change

I – Facts : France is one of the greenest economies in Europe

Although with 531 MtCO2 emitted in 2007, France ranked 24 out of 27 within the European Union in terms of absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it also ranked 8th in terms of emission per capita with 8.6 tCO2eq per capita and 2nd, behind Sweden, in terms of emission per GDP, with 206 tCO2eq per M$ of GDP. The following charts provide relevant comparisons.

GHG Emissions per capita in 2007 tCO2eq/cap

GHG Emissions per GDP in 2007 tCO2eq/G$

A very low-carbon electricity mix, based on nuclear (80% of electricity) and hydro energies (10% of electricity), and ambitious low-carbon policies are the main causes of such figures.
For example, French emissions per new car sold ranks 2nd in Europe, behind Portugal, and renewable energy share ranks 11th in Europe, with 10.3 % of final energy consumption in 2005. Policies that have driven this trend are explained in paragraph 2.

II – 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.

Among the different policies adopted, the following can be singled out for their efficiency:

• Green buildings: reducing emissions associated with building heating and cooling require two kinds of policies, whether new or existing buildings are at stake. France has set standards for new buildings since 1976, with a consumption rate for new buildings set since 2005 at a third of the actual average (1).  Several subsidies to households have been implemented to improve existing buildings’ insulation.

• Public transportation: improving train transportation has been a major policy of the French Ministry of Transport for decades, this solution being particularly adapted to the French geography. The launch of the TGV (High Speed Train) in the 80s and massive investments since in the technology and the rail network rank France second in terms of length of the system, after Japan, with 1180 miles and first in terms of commercial speed, which reaches 124 miles/h.

• Passenger cars: the low diesel fuel taxes and an annual tax based on the power of cars adopted in the 80s has resulted in the mass diffusion of small and average diesel cars and small gasoline cars, making the average emissions of new cars drop. French car manufacturers are among the world leading diesel engines providers.

• Biofuels: a mix of biofuel content binding objectives for fuel distributors and fiscal incentives has resulted in a soar of biofuel content in diesel and gasoline. In 2008, the biofuel content reached 5.7 % of diesel and gasoline in volume.

• Renewable energy: subsidies through feed in tariffs, call for tenders and direct subsidies have resulted in a renewable energy share of 10.3% in 2005, with more than 80% from hydropower and biomass.

• Nuclear energy: nuclear energy represents 80 % of the French electricity mix. (cf the specific fact sheet on this topic).

III – The Grenelle de l’Environnement: France confirms its commitment to green its economy

With the Grenelle de l’Environnement, launched in 2007 by President Sarkozy and driven by French Minister Borloo, France has drawn a consensus between stakeholders and with civil society to further green its economy. As a result, laws have been adopted and will soon be enforced with a specific emphasis on reducing carbon emissions. The policies adopted include:

• Green buildings: the objective is to generalize low energy consumption buildings. As soon as 2012, ambitious new consumption rate will be set(2).

• Emissions from cars: France has implemented a “fee bate” for new car purchases, associated with a “cash for clunker” scheme. This policy has driven the demand for low carbon cars, which explains why France is one of the two European countries whose average CO2 emissions from new cars are below 0.5 poundsCO2/miles in 2008, an objective all cars manufacturers were supposed to meet in 2008/2009. This scheme includes a $7450 (€5000) subsidy for the purchase of electric vehicles.

• Renewable energy objective: in the framework of the Grenelle de l’Environnement, France has adopted ways and means to reach its 23% objective set in the European Renewable Energy objective. The French plan includes a suppression of administrative barriers, a $1.5 billion scheme to support the production of renewable heat via a call for proposals, a call for proposals for the building of biomass power plants adding up to 250 MW (850 MBTU/hr) and a call for proposals for the building of photovoltaic power plants adding up to 300 MW (1000 MBTU/hr) before 2011.

• Public transportation: massive public investments in urban public transportation ($37 billions by 2020), build 1200 additional miles of high speed train by 2020, invest in railroad and sea fret transportation, in particular to Italy, Spain and Portugal and implement a pay as you drive tax on heavy duty vehicles to finance investments in transportation infrastructure.

• Carbon tax: in order to achieve France’s domestic emission reduction objective by 2020, for sectors not included in the carbon market (transportation, buildings, agriculture), France will implement a new fiscally neutral taxation scheme aimed at rewarding low carbon behaviors.

On nuclear energy, investing in the 4th generation / EPR will lead to greater efficiency in nuclear electricity generation.

1- Standard set between 25,000 BTU/feet²/year and 78,000 BTU/feet²/year depending on the latitude and the energy mix compared to 87 000 BTU/ feet²/year in 2007. (BTU = British Thermal Unit)
2- Standard will be set between 2,390 to 41,000 BTU/feet²/year for commercial buildings and 10,000 to 24,000 BTU/feet²/an for residential buildings, depending on the latitude and the energy mix.

Author : Olivier Pairault.
Photo Credit : Robert C