France cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 1.8 percent in 2024 – a sharp slowdown compared to the previous year, government monitoring data shows.
The drop was well below the 5.8 percent reduction seen between 2022 and 2023, according to figures released Friday by Citepa, the group responsible for tracking France’s carbon emissions.
To meet its goal of halving emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, France would need to cut carbon output by 15 MtCO2e (megatonnes of CO2 equivalent) every year for the next six years. In 2024, the reduction was just 6.7 MtCO2e.
'On right track'
“We are still on the right track,” said Ecological Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher on French station TF1. “But there are two sectors where it’s complicated: transport and buildings.”
She added: “I asked the president to convene an ecological planning council to look at what’s working well and, in the two sectors where we’re not moving fast enough, what measures need to be taken.”
Citepa said France’s energy industry posted the largest decline in emissions, down 11.6 percent in 2024, helped by the country’s heavy reliance on nuclear and renewable power.
By contrast, the transport sector, residential and commercial buildings, and heavy industry showed limited progress.
Total greenhouse gas emissions for 2024 are estimated at 366 MtCO2e – the lowest level since 1990.
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Global trend
France’s slowdown reflects a broader trend among developed countries. Germany recorded a 3 percent drop in emissions in 2024, while the United Kingdom saw a 4 percent decline.
Emissions in the United States were nearly unchanged, down just 0.2 percent. China’s emissions rose again, despite strong growth in renewable energy.
“Political backsliding on ecological transition has caused France to fall behind on its climate objectives,” said Anne Bringault, programmes director at the Climate Action Network, which groups many environmental organisations.
“We’re waiting for strong proposals for sectors that have fallen behind, like transport and building renovation – with real lasting solutions for households struggling to make ends meet,” she told the French news agency AFP.
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Incomplete picture
Citepa said its estimates may be “over-estimated” for now, since it cannot yet assess emissions from the waste and agriculture sectors. Final figures could show a slightly larger drop.
France is currently revising its national low-carbon strategy, which aims to reduce gross emissions to 270 MtCO2e by 2030.
The country “must prepare for strengthened reduction targets in the coming years,” Citepa warned, as the EU moves to raise its climate ambitions.
According to the UN, the current global path for cutting carbon pollution is likely to result in about 3C of warming above pre-industrial levels – far beyond the Paris Agreement target of 1.5C.
