The French government, led by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, recently announced an “ecological transformation plan” aimed at reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 22% by 2027. This initiative, set out in a circular sent to ministries on November 21, follows the French government’s total emissions of around 10 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (Mteq CO2) in 2019.
The French Minister for the Civil Service, Stanislas Guerini, had already expressed the ambition of dividing these emissions by five by 2050, but without detailing the trajectory envisaged. The plan groups together various measures and sectoral objectives, particularly in the field of transport. It calls for a 5% reduction in fuel consumption by 2024 and a 10% reduction by 2027, as well as a 20% reduction in air travel by government employees between 2019 and 2024, and a 30% reduction by 2027.
Particular attention is also paid to the State’s real estate assets, which are responsible for 2.6 Mteq CO2 emissions annually. The aim is to reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings by 25% by 2027, in line with the “energy sobriety plan” launched in autumn 2022. The plan also includes the elimination of all oil-fired boilers by 2029 and a 15% reduction in water consumption compared with 2022.
Unsa-Fonction publique, the sector’s fourth-largest union, reacted by regretting the absence of formal discussions with trade unions on this plan, stressing the importance of involving civil servants and respecting their working conditions for the success of this ambitious plan.
France’s ecological transformation plan is a major initiative in the fight against climate change, aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the public sector. Successful implementation will require close collaboration with public officials and an integrated approach.
