Data provided by Citepa indicate a 5.3% drop in French greenhouse gas emissions in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2023. This reduction concerns all the main emitting sectors. Energy production fell by 16.8%, or 2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (Mt CO2e), attributed to an increase in the production of decarbonized electricity. Emissions from buildings also fell by 7.1% (-1.6 Mt CO2e), thanks to milder weather and energy-saving measures.
Specific Sector Discounts
The industrial sector recorded a 5.6% drop in emissions (-1.1 Mt CO2e), with notable reductions in food processing (-9.3%), construction (-7.6%) and paper and cardboard production (-7.6%). Transport saw its emissions fall by 3% (-0.9 Mt CO2e), mainly due to lower emissions from diesel vehicles and French air transport, which dropped by 2.8%.
Background Year 2023
The first quarter of 2024 continues the trend observed in 2023, which saw a 5.8% drop in greenhouse gas emissions compared with 2022. This represents a reduction of 22.8 Mt CO2e, putting total emissions at 373 Mt CO2e, below the indicative annual carbon budget of 395 Mt CO2e for 2023.
Carbon budget compliance
2023 marks the end of France’s second carbon budget for the period 2019-2023, set by the National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC). According to Citepa forecasts, this budget, set at a gross average of 420 Mt CO2e per year, should be met with a margin of 100 Mt CO2e. The final balance sheet will be published in 2025, but the methodological adjustments already made mean that we can expect to meet our targets.
Outlook and projections
The results observed in the first quarter of 2024 and over the whole of 2023 show a positive trend in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in France. These reductions are underpinned by significant sector improvements and compliance with defined carbon budgets. Forecasts for the coming years remain optimistic, with expectations that this positive momentum will continue.
Companies and industrial sectors must continue to adapt and invest in cleaner technologies to maintain and improve these results. Next steps include ongoing assessment of the impact of current policies and adjustment of strategies to ensure that emission reduction targets are met.
