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.

Brazil and France reiterate their conviction that climate change is one of the most pressing challenges we face today and that it requires immediate global response guided by fairness and equity.

Joint article by Bernard Kouchner, Carl Bildt, David Miliband, Per Stig Møller, Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé, and Alexander Stubb, published in the “Le Figaro” newspaper on September 14, 2009