The report is a summary of the presentations given and discussions held during the debate, with written contributions that preceded it.

The debate focused on four major topics:

- Observations and analysis methods used to assess climate change
- Determination of past climates
- Climate models
- Physico-chemical mecanisms

The following conclusions are presented in the report:

- Several independent indicators show an increase of warming from 1975 to 2003.
- This increase is mainly due to the increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere
- The increase in CO2 and, to a lesser degree, of other greenhouse gases, is unequivocally due to human activity.
- It constitutes a threat to the climate and, moreover, to oceans as a result of the acidification process it generates.
- This increase drives retroactions of the global climate system, the complexity of which requires the use of models and tests for the purpose of validating them.
- The mechanisms which can play a role in the transmission and amplification of solar forcing, and in particular, of solar activity, are not yet well understood. Solar activity, which has slightly decreased on average since 1975, cannot be dominant in the observed warming during this period
- Important uncertainties remain in the modeling of clouds, the evolution of marine ice and polar ice caps, ocean/atmosphere coupling, the evolution of the biosphere and the dynamics of the carbon cycle
- The projections of climate change over the 30 to 50-year period are only slightly affected by the uncertainty in the modeling of slow-moving processes. These projections are particularly useful in meeting current societal concerns, made worse by the predictable population increase.
- Climate change can only by analyzed by long series of data, both homogeneous and continuous, on a large scale. The major terrestrial and spatial observation programs, must be maintained and developed and their results made available to the international scientific community.
- The interdisciplinary nature of the problems requires an even greater involvement of the various scientific communities to further the advances already achieved in the field of climatology and to open new avenues for future research

The report is available in French here : http://media.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/file/2010/35/0/Changement_climatique_octobre_2010_159350.pdf

This report ranks France first, followed by Germany and the UK. In particular, France’s performances are high in terms of emissions, investments and skills although it ranks 4th in terms of innovation and policies and institutions. As a matter of fact, nuclear and hydro power result in a very low carbon content of GDP and exports. Low carbon stimulus spending is on the plus side. However, low carbon technologies patenting and the share of venture capital investments in clean tech must be improved. The Grenelle de l’Environnement (see fact sheet) will help France’s greening its economy.

Read “Measuring Up”:
http://www.nrtee-trnee.com/eng/issues/programs/climate-prosperity/benchmarking/benchmarking-eng.pdf

Origin of the French nuclear program

In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, France decided to invest in nuclear energy ? a compact source of energy ? in order to reduce its energy dependence. France launched the most comprehensive nuclear energy program ever which has led in less than 30 years to the construction and current operation of 58 industrial-sized pressurized water reactors (PWR) at 19 sites throughout France.

French nuclear power stations

All PWR reactors in operation are of Generation II type. France is currently building one AREVA EPR™ in Flamanville and plans for one more in Penly. AREVA is also working on other ongoing construction projects in Finland, China and upcoming ones in the USA, the United Kingdom, and Italy. This Generation III+ reactor model combines enhanced safety features, improved fuel utilization and economics and limited waste production. Furthermore, with a 1,650 megawatts output, it is economically competitive with fossil fuel plants.

Nuclear production and safety

Reaching a power capacity of 63 gigawatts, the nuclear plants operated by the French utility EDF account for nearly 80% of French generated electricity. The competitiveness of nuclear electricity and the large volume of baseload electricity generated in France enable exports to other European countries, making EDF the world’s largest net exporter of electric power.
The 40 year experience of industrial operation of nuclear energy has provided France with a demanding and high quality safety culture. The Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), which is responsible for regulating nuclear safety and radiation protection in order to protect workers, the public and the environment from the risks involved in nuclear activities, was established as an independent body.

Recycling

France has always been sensitive to nuclear waste management issues and aware of the risk of exhaustion of uranium resources. It has developed for many years a strategy for recycling its spent nuclear fuel ? fuel that cannot sustain nuclear reactions anymore ? instead of considering them as waste to be disposed. About 85% of EDF’s spent fuel is reprocessed today at the La Hague plant in Normandy. Plutonium is recycled in MOX fuel and ultimate waste is vitrified and stored in small buildings, in La Hague, awaiting for final disposal. This process currently allows saving of up to 25% of uranium resources and diminishes the volume and level of radioactivity of final waste awaiting underground disposal by a factor of respectively 5 and 10. Additionally, final waste after recycling doesn’t raise proliferation concerns and is hence relieved from safeguard obligations.

Environmental and GHG benefits of nuclear in France and potential for the United States: how cap and trade can support nuclear energy.

The environmental footprint of nuclear plants is very small, since they do not generate the pollution and CO2 byproducts of regular fossil fuel plants. Mostly due to nuclear energy, total pollution from the country’s energy system dropped by more than 80% during the 1980 to 1990 period where France tripled its nuclear energy capacity. Over the same period of time, French overall CO2 emissions (energy, transportation…) were cut off by 25%.
If the United States were to adopt a cap and trade system, with an hypothesis of about $20 per metric ton of CO2 emitted, each new nuclear reactor on the basis of the EPR™ reactor in project in Calvert Cliffs, Maryland, would allow saving 5 million metric tons/year of CO2 emissions and $100 million/year in permits purchase, compared to a gas powered station; 11.5 million metric tons/year CO2 emissions and more than $230 million compared to a coal powered station.

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

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. The two countries underline that combating climate change is an imperative that must be fully compatible with sustainable economic growth and the fight against poverty. They endorse the scientific findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report and support the objective that global mean temperature increase should not exceed 2ºC above the pre-industrial levels, which implies a peak in global emissions as early as possible and reducing global emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 1990.

Brazil and France are engaged in working together before the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held in Copenhagen, in December 2009. They emphasize the importance of establishing bridges among countries and are willing to further advance understandings between the G77/China and the industrialized countries. They commend the fact that two countries with different national and regional circumstances can express common views on major issues of the climate change negotiations. They are determined to step up the pace of negotiations in order to reach a positive and ambitious agreed outcome, based on the Bali Road Map, in Copenhagen later this year.

Brazil and France commit themselves to cooperating to strengthen the international climate change regime, through the enhanced implementation of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol. In this regard, they recall that all Parties should formulate, implement, publish and regularly update national programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change and facilitate adaptation to climate change. These plans should be the vehicle for low carbon growth.

They underscore that all Annex I countries should adopt new and ambitious mid-term emission reduction targets in line with their historical and present responsibilities and capabilities, consistent with the 2°C and the recommendations of the IPCC. Annex I countries should outline emission pathways consistent with the goal of reducing their emissions by at least 80% by 2050 compared to 1990. In this context, they agree on the central importance of comparability of economy wide reduction targets among all Annex I countries.

Meanwhile, non-Annex I countries should pursue low carbon growth by implementing nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) in the context of sustainable development, enabled and supported by developed countries with new and additional financing, technology cooperation and capacity-building. Developing countries should also contribute to the global effort by undertaking a substantial deviation from the business as usual projections of their emissions increase consistent with the IPCC recommendations, with a view to reducing the carbon intensity of their economies and peaking emissions as early as possible, bearing in mind that social and economic development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities in developing countries.

Our two countries will support the establishment of a registry as part of the general framework for measuring, reporting and verifying (MRV) both NAMAs by developing countries and the support received from developed countries. The registry would channel enabling means of implementation of mitigation actions by developing countries, allowing for an important contribution to an enhanced global mitigation effort.

Brazil and France also underline the importance of adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change and agree that mitigation and adaptation should be given equal consideration under the Convention. Despite their limited responsibility for climate change, developing countries are already facing its adverse effects. Brazil and France stress the need for the development of a fair, comprehensive and robust framework for adaptation. This framework must include significant new financial support for developing countries, particularly for poor and vulnerable countries in Africa, Least Developed Countries and the Small Island Developing States, so that they may face the additional burden that climate change poses regarding the existing challenge of social and economic development and poverty eradication.

They recall that the provision of financial resources is one of the key building blocks for the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention. In this context, they underscore that the scaling-up of international public financing will be paramount for the successful outcome of COP-15. They underline the role of financial instruments, innovative financing and the role of the private sector in supporting action on mitigation and adaptation, as well as technology development and transfer. Investments should support low carbon growth and sustainable production and consumption patterns.
They highlight the need for enhanced cooperation between developed and developing countries for the research, development, deployment, diffusion and transfer of environmentally sound technologies. Technological cooperation can also be enhanced through the establishment of international hubs for knowledge and information sharing and capacity-building as well as national and regional centres for environmentally friendly technologies. Innovative solutions are needed to significantly enhance access to technologies.

They underscore the importance of stimulating enhanced action aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD). They recognize that this objective is an important part of mitigation efforts by several developing countries and may play a significant role in the global effort to tackle climate change. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, through conservation of forests, sustainable management and enhancement of carbon stocks in forests can and should promote social and environmental co-benefits.

In this sense, they agree that such activities should receive adequate financial and technological support, as part of nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) to be undertaken by developing countries. They emphasize the need to strengthen capacity-building and technology cooperation – both North-South and South-South – in the forestry sector, including the use of remote sensing tools. They commit to ensure the inclusion of REDD in the Copenhagen agreed outcome, with a view to establishing effective and reliable means of support for this objective under the Convention.
Brazil and France underline the need for ambitious results in reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale. In this sense, they stress the role of promoting energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy, including socially and environmentally sustainable bioenergy, as part of the global effort to address climate change.

Brazil and France concur on the need for the establishment of an international organization devoted to the environment and sustainable development, which would give coherence to the efforts of the international community in these areas. They are convinced that the impetus should be given in Copenhagen in December so that the organization could be established at the Rio+20 Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 2012./.

¹ Source of English text: Elysée website.

Around the world and particularly in the poorest and most vulnerable countries global warming already threatens to undermine development efforts in health, agriculture and infrastructure. Migration caused by lack of access to water and land is increasing social tension and undermining political stability and security.

Climate change has the potential to bring about substantial geopolitical change. It will increasingly affect the foreign policy decisions of all our countries. European Foreign Ministries must make a real contribution now to the drive to achieve a deal at Copenhagen. The European Union must show renewed leadership to help unlock the negotiations through its commitment to take ambitious mitigation action at home, and on financial and technological support to help developing countries move to a low carbon growth path.

After the meeting in Copenhagen on 10 September we agree on how to tackle this collective diplomatic challenge. We pledge the following :

• We will press for a deal at Copenhagen of sufficient ambition to keep global warming to a maximum of 2 degrees.
• We will work to promote an ambitious and equitable international offer in which Europe will take its fair share in financing mitigation, technology and adaptation efforts by developing countries.
• We will engage personally to direct the full force of our diplomatic efforts and mobilize the resources of our collective diplomatic networks to persuade the key participants in this negotiation to come forward with ambitious commitments.
• We will work to ensure that the challenges climate change poses to international stability and security gets a prominent position on the international agenda.
• We will work to ensure that the EU continues to show leadership in the negotiations with a readiness to move from our current commitment of reducing carbon emissions by 20% by 2020, to a commitment to reduce emissions by 30% in the context of an ambitious deal and comparable efforts by the other partners.

Through a strong message on finance for mitigation, adaptation and technology we will contribute towards a deal that gets all countries on board a new agreement to be reached in Copenhagen.

The Copenhagen conference cannot agree a new international regime to fight climate change unless we find a political balance between all parties. We must create mutual confidence and trust that the only sustainable global growth path is for us to transform our economies to low carbon. We can make this the great defining cause for Europe in the twenty-first century.

Published in the “Le Figaro” newspaper, September 22, 2009.
Source : Le Figaro