The key facts, figures, and policies behind France’s climate performance in 2009.
 | France's Emission TrendsClick on the image to see France's emission trends since 1990 (Graphic: WWF/Allianz) |
Improvements since 1990
G8 Ranking: 4
-Past emission trend from 1990 to 2007: -5.3%
-Current (2007) distance to the Kyoto target: -5.3%-points
-Increase of the share of renewable energy sources: -0.9%-points
Current Status
G8 Ranking: 3
-Emissions per capita: 11 tons CO2*
-Emissions per GDP: 358 tons CO2 /M$*
-CO2 per kWh electricity: 362 grams CO2*
-Emissions in transport per capita: 2.3 tons CO2
*Adjusted as if electricity from nuclear power was generated from natural gas. Without adjustment: 9 tons CO2 per capita, 276 tons CO2 per GDP, 86 grams CO2 per kWh
Policies for the future
G8 Ranking: 3
- Long-term national GHG emissions target: -75 percent by 2050 compared to 1990 level
- Law planned to reduce energy consumption of existing buildings by 38 percent by 2020
- Half of industry emissions covered by EU Emission Trading Scheme
- Law planned to cut GHG emissions from transport 20 percent by 2020; goal of 7 percent biofuels by 2010, EU emissions limit for new cars—130g/km—to be phased in from 2012
 | Animation: G8 Climate Scorecards 2009Click on the image to see the climate performance of the G8 countries (Animation: Allianz) |
France’s emissions are currently below the Kyoto target and transport emissions have stabilized. Emissions are relatively low for an industrialized country, partially due to a high share of nuclear energy.
WWF does not consider nuclear a viable policy option because of economic, environmental and safety reasons and so France’s emissions are calculated as if nuclear-generated electricity came from burning natural gas—the cleanest fossil fuel—thus moving France down to third place in the WWF/Allianz Climate Scorecards report.
Total emissions have only slightly declined since 1990 and will increase if no further policies are implemented. France was one of the first countries to agree a legally binding long-term emissions target—minus 75 percent by 2050—although no implementation plan is in place.
France has ambitious long-term plans but as yet no comprehensive implementation plan in place. Although there are government financial incentives for energy efficiency in buildings, for biofuels and for renewables, including feed-in tariffs for delivered electricity, the mandatory targets imposed on utilities to promote energy efficiency are weak.
France has also agreed to European Union targets for 2020: reduce GHG emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels and 30 percent if other countries commit to reductions; reduce energy consumption by 20 percent; and increase the share of renewable energy in France’s energy mix to 23 percent. France remains a strong supporter of nuclear power.
editor: James Tulloch
publishing date: July 1, 2009
Do you have something interesting to add? Write a comment and discuss this topic with other readers. Comments should be on-topic, non-commercial, and not contain abuse of any kind.
Comment Policy
Nuclear power
Science or nonsense???? ???WWF does not consider nuclear a viable policy option because of economic, environmental and safety reasons and so France’s emissions are calculated as if...