France’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Drop 2.5% as Energy Use Falls

(Bloomberg) -- France’s greenhouse gas emissions fell 2.5% last year as households, businesses and public authorities cut energy consumption to offset soaring prices and fears over supply. 

Emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other gases that contribute to global warming fell to 408 million tons of CO2 equivalent last year from 418 million tons in 2021, according to preliminary estimates from Citepa, a non-profit organization that measures emissions for the French environment ministry and other parties. 

Emissions dropped the most in homes and non-residential building amid government calls to reduce heating, and in the manufacturing and construction sectors, which have been hit by rising energy and raw material costs. By contrast, pollution rebounded in the energy sector as France used more gas to generate power amid prolonged nuclear reactor outages, and slightly gained in transport.

The government recently passed a law aimed at speeding up the roll out of solar and wind projects to reduce the use of fossil fuels following Russia’s attack on Ukraine. It’s also subsidizing purchases of electric cars and home renovations, and helping companies switch to cleaner fuels as the European Union plans to accelerate the region’s emission cuts by 2030.  

“France is respecting its emissions target” for 2018-2023, Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said on France Info radio Wednesday. “We’ll have to revise up our efforts to lower our CO2 emissions” from 2024 to meet new European targets, she said, while encouraging businesses to switch to cleaner vehicles and to develop work-from-home when possible. 

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