To encourage private companies to adapt to climate change, Bercy announces the creation of “green loans” guaranteed by the State, to the tune of two billion euros for 2024.
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The government is launching a plan to adapt businesses to climate change. The Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, and that of Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, brought together representatives of the economic world on Thursday February 8 to call on them to invest in this adaptation. Because “It’s urgent”according to Bruno Le Maire,“global warming is already here”.
The ministers therefore ask large public companies in the energy and transport sectors to present a plan by the end of the year with the work to be carried out to adapt to climatic hazards such as extreme heat, storms or flooding.
Up to two and a half million euros for manufacturers
For private companies, Bercy is launching “green loans”, guaranteed by the State to the tune of two billion euros in total for 2024. These new loans are open to all companies, from the smallest to the largest, to help them to finance their adaptation work. This will be money, for example, to better insulate their buildings or to install water reuse circuits. Each will be able to request up to two million euros – or even two and a half million for manufacturers, whose investments are often heavier.
In practice, small and medium-sized businesses, VSEs and SMEs, will be able to make their request from next month, in March, for projects exceeding 200,000 euros. They must contact the Public Investment Bank (BPI France). For less expensive projects, less than 200,000 euros, the file must be submitted directly to the bank, from 1er July.
Obviously, companies will have to justify the nature of the work to obtain this loan guaranteed by the State. But Bruno Le Maire assures that he prefers this solution to subsidies, “because now is not the time for public spending”. The envelope was provided for in the finance bill for 2024.