which measures proposed by the candidates are contrary to France’s climate objectives?

This article is part of a special operation, in collaboration with Les Shifters, an association of volunteers who support the think tank The Shift Project, a specialist in energy transition.

Do the candidates’ programs contain missteps or other false good ideas? Based on seven sectors of the National Low Carbon Strategy (transport, buildings, agriculture, forests, industry, energy and waste), Les Shifters assessed the performance of the programs with regard to France’s objectives in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. greenhouse effect. In four of these sectors, Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s proposals are considered close to these objectives, against two sectors for Yannick Jadot and one sector for the outgoing President, Emmanuel Macron.

>> Climate crisis: we examined the programs of the presidential candidates to see if they respect the Paris agreement

According to the detailed analysis of the Shifters, none of the candidates fully meets the objectives of the Paris agreement and two of them, Nathalie Arthaud and Jean Lassalle, do not present enough measures to determine the place of their programs. respectively on this spectrum. Finally, three candidates advocate measures deemed contrary to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Franceinfo returns to these proposals.

The individual car and the plane at Nicolas Dupont-Aignan

Transport is responsible for 31% of national emissions. In this sector, some of Nicolas Dupont-Aignan’s proposals go in the direction of the SNBC, such as the development of rail transport and the generalization of the use of less polluting vehicles via a bonus for the acquisition of a vehicle consuming less 3 liters/100 km. But other measures “go against the SNBC, which provides for a significant drop in the modal share of the private car“, note The Shifters.

Among the measures contrary to France’s ambitions in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they cite the reduction of toll rates, the abolition of certain low-emission zones and even lower fuel taxation.

In addition, the program of the candidate of Debout la France! only mentions air traffic to reduce the cost of transport between overseas territories and France and to promote tourism to France from Asia and South America, “which can increase traffic”estimates the association, thus generating more greenhouse gas emissions.

An unconvincing energy mix at Le Pen, Dupont-Aignan and Lassalle

The energy sector is responsible for 10% of emissions in France. The programs of Marine Le Pen, Jean Lassalle and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan all three show the ambition to decarbonize it, in accordance with the ambitions of the Paris agreement. To do this, the candidates are counting on a strong development of nuclear power. Too strong, even, for the candidate of Debout la France! : according to Les Shifters, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan is counting on the development of the atom “which exceeds what RTE [le gestionnaire du réseau] considered feasible in its Energy Futures 2050 report”underlines the association, with the maintenance “highly unlikely” in the state of the research of a nuclear production up to 70% of the energy production.

But it is above all the opposition of these candidates to one or more sources of renewable energy that penalizes their score. Thus, Marine Le Pen and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan reject solar and wind energy. For her part, the candidate of the National Rally is betting on a mix between nuclear, hydroelectricity and hydrogen, to compensate for the total cessation of the use of wind turbines and an inevitable decline in solar power that would result from the end of photovoltaic subsidies. However, depriving oneself of these two sources of renewable energy “seems incompatible with the SNBC, which on the contrary aims for an essential diversification of the mix”, warn The Shifters, noting that these two candidates are based on technologies “unmature” Where “in research”.

As for Jean Lassalle, he proposes to invest – in addition to nuclear power – in solar and marine energies, but also wants to put a brake on wind power. This last wish “appears to contradict all the recently published energy mix decarbonization scenarios”point out The Shifters.

Aid that promotes carbon energies for Lassalle and Le Pen

Among the measures aimed at preserving the purchasing power of households, Jean Lassalle proposes a reduction in VAT (from 20% to 5.5%) on hydrocarbons. That “strengthens attractiveness through the price of carbon energies”note The Shifters.

Similarly, Marine Le Pen plans to lower VAT on all energies (petrol, gas and electricity), “which could lead to an increase in consumption due to greater accessibility”continues the association.