France's climate action strategy

France is legally bound to reach climate neutrality by 2050. In 2023, the country accounted for 12.4 % of the EU's net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and achieved a net emissions reduction of 28.1 % compared with 2005. Between 2005 and 2023, France's total emissions decreased by 31.2 %, but its carbon sink in the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector declined by more than half (Figure 1). While the emissions from sectors under the EU emissions trading system (ETS) decreased by 52.3 %, those from effort-sharing sectors fell by only 24.1 %. To stay in line with the new EU objective of a 55 % net emissions reduction, France must consider reducing its emissions by 5 % per year between 2022 and 2030 and substantially increasing its carbon sink. The European Commission assessed France's draft updated national energy and climate plan (NECP), submitted in November 2023, and made recommendations. The final updated NECP was tabled in July 2024. In a 2023 survey, 52 % of French, compared with an EU average of 46 %, identified climate change as of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most expect the EU (65 %) and/or national government (61 %) to tackle climate change. 46 % find it to be a personal responsibility.