French Government’s Energy “Sobriety Plan” Expected Thursday

In France, the government presents its "energy sobriety plan", aiming to mobilize all sectors of economic and social life.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25£/month*

*billed annually at 99£/year for the first year then 149,00£/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2£/month*
then 14.90£ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

In France, the government presents on Thursday its “energy sobriety plan”, aiming to mobilize all sectors of the economic and social life to reduce by 10% the French consumption of energy
in two years, and already to help the country face a tense winter.

The measures will be detailed, from the Parc des expositions de la porte de Versailles in Paris, by, among others, the Minister of Energy Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher, and the event will be closed by the Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

They had announced on June 23 the launch of this plan, whose objective is to reduce by 10% the country’s consumption, “first step” towards a reduction of 40% by 2050.

Since July, the government has thus convened the sectors concerned, under the leadership of all their respective ministers, starting at the end of June with the “exemplary state” working group. The groups “Companies and work organization”, “Establishments open to the public and large surfaces”, “Housing”, “Local authorities”, “Digital and telecommunications”, “Sports” and “Transport” followed throughout the summer.

Finally, in September, the last group, dedicated to “Industry”, met at the Ministry, with representatives of industry, trade unions, sectors and energy suppliers.

The ministers Agnès Pannier-Runacher and Roland Lescure had then insisted on “the need for a collective mobilization to hunt for energy waste”.

Placed under the sign of “consultation”, explains the government, this plan “will avoid restrictive measures”, but “in the longer term, energy sobriety will be fundamental to achieve our climate objectives”.

Among the “common sense” measures already mentioned, including by Emmanuel Macron, the limitation of heating to 19°C, a recommendation included in the energy code since 1978 and the oil crisis.

Other avenues include lighting management, where optimization can result in up to 70% less expenditure, and raising awareness of eco-actions, particularly digital ones, within companies.

In industry, for example, the actions concern industrial processes, supply chains and work organization.

“Sobriety is the hunt for waste, it is the attention to heating, lighting, it is not asking companies to reduce their production or their activity,” said Ms. Pannier-Runacher, for whom it must be “collective efforts, proportionate and reasonable.

The German regulator is preparing a reform favourable to grid operators, aiming to adjust returns and efficiency rules from 2028 for gas pipelines and 2029 for electricity networks.
Bill Gates urges governments and investors to prioritise adaptation to warming effects, advocating for increased funding in health and development across vulnerable countries.
The Malaysian government plans to increase public investment in natural gas and solar energy to reduce coal dependency while ensuring energy cost stability for households and businesses.
The study by Özlem Onaran and Cem Oyvat highlights structural limits in public climate finance, underscoring the need for closer alignment with social and economic goals to strengthen the efficiency and resilience of public spending.
Oil major ExxonMobil is challenging two California laws requiring disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks, arguing that the mandates violate freedom of speech.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Norway’s deferral of a climate impact assessment did not breach procedural safeguards under the Convention, upholding the country’s 2016 oil licensing decisions.
Singapore strengthens its energy strategy through public investments in nuclear, regional electricity interconnections and gas infrastructure to secure its long-term supply.
As oil production declines, Gabon is relying on regulatory reforms and large-scale investments to build a new growth framework focused on local transformation and industrialisation.
Cameroon will adopt a customs exemption on industrial equipment related to biofuels starting in 2026, as part of its new energy strategy aimed at regulating a still underdeveloped sector.
Facing a persistent fuel shortage and depleted foreign reserves, the Bolivian parliament has passed an exceptional law allowing private actors to import gasoline, diesel and LPG tax-free for three months.
Ghana aims to secure $16 billion in oil revenues over ten years, but the continued drop in production raises doubts about the sector’s long-term stability.
The government of Kinshasa has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam's Vingroup to develop a 6,300-hectare urban project and modernise mobility through an electric transport network.
ERCOT’s grid adapts to record electricity consumption by relying on the growth of solar, wind and battery storage to maintain system stability.
The French government will raise the energy savings certificate budget by 27% in 2026, leveraging more private funds to support thermal renovation and electric mobility.
Facing opposition criticism, Monique Barbut asserts that France’s energy sovereignty relies on a strategy combining civil nuclear power and renewable energy.
The European Commission is reviving efforts to abolish daylight saving time, supported by several member states, as the energy savings from the practice are now considered negligible.
Rising responses to UNEP’s satellite alerts trigger measurement, reporting and verification clauses; the European Union sets import milestones, Japan strengthens liquefied natural gas traceability; operators and steelmakers adjust budgets and contracts.
The Finance Committee has adopted an amendment to overhaul electricity pricing by removing the planned redistribution mechanism and capping producers' profit margins.
The European Commission unveils a seven-point action plan aimed at lowering energy costs, targeting energy-intensive industries and households facing persistently high utility bills.
The European Commission plans to keep energy at the heart of its 2026 agenda, with several structural reforms targeting market security, governance and simplification.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25£/month*

*billed annually at 99£/year for the first year then 149,00£/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2£/month*
then 14.90£ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.