Christophe Béchu, Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion was the guest of the “8h30 franceinfo” of tuesday 15 November 2022. COP27, drought, civil disobedience, hunting, petrol, ZFE and yellow vests… He answered questions from Marc Fauvelle and Salhia Brakhlia.
COP27: “We are in the three, four to five years where we have to move”
“We are in a crucial decade, which determines the situation in which the habitability of the planet will be for the generations to come.“, believes Christophe Béchu. Three days before the end of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, he “knows that we are in the three, four to five years where we have to move“.”This COP27 is an opportunity to put the climate back at the top of the pile, in a year when there has been a lot of talk about war, inflation and energy difficulties..”
While a commitment from the richest countries is expected on the financing of the damage caused by global warming, the minister recognizes “the particular responsibility of the countries of the North“.”We must help the countries of the South not to make the choices we have made and we must accompany them to preserve their ecosystems.”
Civil disobedience: “Those who do this serve the environmental cause”
“Those who do this serve the cause“, says Christophe Béchu about the environmental activists who carry out actions of civil disobedience. Some have attacked works of art, others have stuck their hands to the roads or tied themselves to rugby posts during a Top 14 match, but all “cause French people to misunderstand and send back an image of ecology that is not the right one“, according to the minister.
Drought: “We will no longer have the same abundance of water that we have known”
“Several dozen departments“are still affected by water restrictions, the Minister for Ecological Transition announced on Tuesday on franceinfo, against “more than three quarters“departments”at the worst time“New restrictive measures may also be taken”in December or January“, warns Christophe Béchu. “On July 29, I signed a decree that allows us to take it throughout the year. We have to get used to it. We won’t have the same abundance of water we used to have“Minister Christophe Béchu recalls having launched the Assises de l’eau at the end of September: “Experts are thinking and we will make decisions in the next few weeks.”
Sainte-Soline mega-basin: “A scientific report says it’s good for biodiversity”
Twenty days after thedemonstration prohibited“, “in which Yannick Jadot participated“, and “which resulted in 60 injured gendarmes with the throwing of pétanque balls or the use of Molotov cocktails“, Christophe Béchu notes that “construction has resumed” on the mega-basin of Sainte-Soline (Deux-Sèvres).
“At some point, we have to choose: either we listen to the science that can help us find solutions, or we stay on formulas and ready to think.” According to him, “the use of restraint” may “ensure local production“.”A scientific report says that this project will help preserve groundwater levels during the summer and is therefore good for biodiversity.”
Aid for the repair of electronic equipment: “The challenge is two million devices repaired per year”
While, according to information from franceinfo, a repair bonus for electrical and electronic equipment will be implemented on December 15, Christophe Béchu clarified the outlines. “It will be necessary to contact an authorized repairer and the amount of the aid will be deducted from the invoice“, he explains. “We have 500 repairers out of the 20,000 wanted“According to the minister, “it’s an issue that allows us to talk about ecology in a positive way“.”Too many devices are thrown away. The objective is to increase the repair by 20% with aid of 10 to 45 euros. Like the boost for bicycles, the challenge is two million devices repaired per year.”
Low emission zones: “The subject is not to create ‘yellow vests'”
“The point is not to piss people off“, assures Christophe Béchu about traffic restrictions, the Low Emission Zones (ZFE), which will be implemented in all cities with more than 150,000 inhabitants by January 2025. “There are 47,000 deaths from air pollution“per year in France, he recalls.
While the reform is criticized for its illegibility between the cities, the minister explains that he brought together “all mayors” there is “less than a month“.”We will work on harmonization and social accessibility” Christophe Béchu insists: “the subject is not to create ‘yellow vests’, it is to preserve the health of the French“. Concerning the controls and possible radars, he explains that “it will be up to each mayor to decide“.
Gasoline: “Let everyone look at how they are able to reduce their consumption”
The Minister for Ecological Transition invites the French to “see how they are able to reduce their consumption“since the rebate on fuel will drop from 30 to 10 cents on Wednesday.”The rebate was good for purchasing power, but not for the climate.“He invites to reduce”speed“, TO DO “carpooling“where to find”alternative uses“.
Hunting: an alcohol offense “before the next season”
“The government is actively considering“to a blood alcohol offense for hunters, confirms Tuesday on franceinfo Christophe Béchu. It may come into force”before the next hunting season“.”When it is forbidden to drive at more than 0.5 (gram of alcohol per liter of blood), it does not seem absurd to ask the same thing of someone who has a loaded gun“As regards possible days without hunting, the Minister is rather “confidence in local dialogue to reconcile the different uses“and to find”a reasonable compromise“.
Corrida: “It’s not the priority” to ban it
The ban on bullfighting “is not a government proposal” to which Christophe Béchu belongs. The LFI deputy Aymeric Caron will table a bill to this effect during the parliamentary niche of rebellious France, from November 24 next and, if certain deputies of the majority are tempted to vote for it, the minister thinks that “it’s not the priority“. “I have never attended a bullfight, it is not something that attracts me. I wonder about the advisability, in the context in which we are, of saying to people who have traditions, which are obviously dying out, that they should be made illegal.”
2024 Olympics mascot: “There is a problem” with stuffed animals made in China
“There is a problem“with the stuffed animals of the mascot of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Minister for Ecological Transition admitted on Tuesday on franceinfo. These, called “Phryges”, are made in China.I want to believe that we still have a few months before the Olympics are held to be able to correct the subject. When we explain that we need short circuits and relocate, we cannot end up with a production of mascots that is done at the end of the world. When we defend the perspective of fighting against global warming, this means favoring what is made nearby.
Find the full 8.30 franceinfo of Tuesday, November 15 :