In the wake of the COP26 in Glasgow, France must raise its climate objectives for 2030, strengthen their implementation and “take back the initiative internationally”, recommends the High Council for the climate (HCC), in an opinion published Thursday, December 16.
The independent body chosen by Emmanuel Macron to assess France’s climate policies looked at the decisions taken at COP26 and their implications for France.
Despite the progress made during these international negotiations, “the sum of the new ambitions does not make it possible to limit the warming to 1.5 ° C as it was the ambition” of the Paris Agreement, commented the president of the HCC, Corinne le Quéré, during a videoconference.
“The current decade must be the decade of action, with massive cuts now” greenhouse gas emissions, she continued.
At the French level, the HCC recommends “raise France’s 2030 objectives and clearly specify the challenges for all emitting sectors, including aviation and international maritime transport” today excluded from commitments.
“The objective of reducing emissions for France currently at -40% in 2030 compared to the 1990 level is no longer up to the challenges highlighted at COP26”, specifies the HCC in its report, especially as the European Union has set itself as a new objective a reduction of 55%.
Ministerial climate plans – of which only three out of ten have been published – “must be coordinated at the level of the Prime Minister and be calibrated on climate issues”, insisted Corinne Le Quéré. It is “clearly specify the stakes for all emitting sectors”, in particular road transport and agriculture which do not see their emissions drop sufficiently, she continued.
Corinne Le Quéré also regretted that no Ecological Defense Council has met since February 2020.
The HCC also advocates “strengthen governance and the means implemented in terms of the climate”, of“ensure a follow-up of the international commitments made by France” and finally “take back the international initiative on the climate in view of the future COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, in particular by involving economic players”, according to a statement.