France's emission cuts tipped to slow again in 2025
France, a major economy seen as a leader in transitioning to a low-carbon future, slashed its output of planet-heating emissions by 6.8 percent in 2023.
But the rate of decline slowed sharply to 1.8 percent in 2024 and is tipped to slip even further in 2025 to just 0.8 percent, said Citepa's latest progress report for the ministry.
"This slight decrease in greenhouse gas emissions would confirm the slowdown in momentum observed in recent years," it said.
Advertisement
France's current emissions reduction target for 2030 is at least 40 percent compared to 1990 levels, but a plan under development proposes raising this goal to 50 percent.
To achieve this, France needs to cut emissions by around five percent each year between 2022 and 2030 - well above the current pace.
France is far from alone in Europe, with Germany and Britain also struggling to sustain the momentum after posting impressive cuts in recent years.
Major polluters elsewhere are also stalling.
The United States only managed a 0.2 percent reduction in 2024, even before President Donald Trump took office promising to unwind climate protections and drill for more oil and gas.
Cipeta said France's first quarter emissions for 2025 actually rose slightly, due in part to higher gas and electricity use for heating school and residential buildings.
The sharp drops in energy emissions seen over the past two years were forecast to slow considerably in 2025, it added.
"The use of nuclear power should stabilise in the second half of 2025, remaining at a historically high level," Cipeta said.
"In addition, as the use of fossil fuels is already very low, it should stabilise without allowing the gains observed in the past."
The slowdown comes as nations face pressure to commit new climate targets in line with international efforts to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
On Wednesday, the 27-nation European Union unveiled its long-delayed goal of cutting emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels - but with contested new flexibilities built in.
EU emissions fell by 8.3 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, and are now 37 percent below 1990 levels.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LeMonde
an hour ago
- LeMonde
Trump signs 'big, beautiful' bill on US Independence Day
US President Donald Trump signed his flagship tax and spending bill into law on Friday, July 4, capping a pomp-laden White House Independence Day ceremony featuring a stealth bomber fly-by. "America is winning, winning, winning like never before," Trump said at the event where he signed the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" flanked by Republican lawmakers. The party fell into line and pushed the bill through a reluctant Congress on Thursday, in time for Trump to sign the bill as he had hoped on the Fourth of July holiday marking America's 249 th birthday. Two B-2 bombers of the type that recently struck Iranian nuclear sites roared over the White House at the start of the ceremony, accompanied by fighter jets on their wingtips. Pilots who carried out the bombing on Iran were among those invited to the White House event. The passage of the unpopular bill caps two weeks of significant wins for Trump, including an Iran-Israel ceasefire that was sealed after what he called the "flawless" US air strikes on Iran. Ever the showman, Trump melded his various victory laps into one piece of political theater at the ceremony marking 249 years of independence from Britain. The sprawling mega-bill honors many of Trump's campaign promises: extending tax cuts from his first term, boosting military spending and providing massive new funding for Trump's migrant deportation drive. Trump glossed over deep concerns from his own party and voters that it will balloon the national debt, while simultaneously gutting health and welfare support. "The largest spending cut," Trump said with First Lady Melania Trump at his side, "and yet you won't even notice it." Republican misgivings Trump forced through the "big beautiful bill" despite deep misgivings in the Republican Party − and the vocal opposition of his billionaire former ally, Elon Musk. It squeezed past a final vote in the House of Representatives 218-214 after Republican Speaker Mike Johnson worked through the night to corral the final group of dissenters. Trump thanked Johnson at the White House event. The legislation is the latest in a series of big wins for Trump that also included a Supreme Court ruling last week that curbed lone federal judges from blocking his policies, and a NATO deal to increase spending. But the bill is expected to pile an extra $3.4 trillion over a decade onto the US deficit. At the same time it will shrink the federal food assistance program and force through the largest cuts to the Medicaid health insurance scheme for low-income Americans since its 1960s launch. Up to 17 million people could lose their insurance coverage under the bill, according to some estimates. Scores of rural hospitals are expected to close as a result. Democrats hope public opposition to the bill will help them flip the House in the 2026 midterm election, pointing to data showing that it represents a huge redistribution of wealth from the poorest Americans to the richest.
Euronews
3 hours ago
- Euronews
EU leaders reaffirm support for Moldova's bid to join bloc
Senior officials from the European Union were in Moldova on Friday for a landmark bilateral summit to strengthen ties and reaffirm the bloc's commitment to EU candidate country, just months ahead of its parliamentary elections. To support Moldova's EU integration and reform efforts, the bloc announced up to €1.9 billion in funding for 2025–2027 under the new Moldova Growth Plan - the largest EU financial package since the country's independence. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu for the first EU-Moldova summit. 'Nine months ago, we agreed on the growth plan for Moldova, and eight months ago, the people of Moldova have enshrined their European future in Moldova's constitution,' said von der Leyen. 'What a testament to Moldova's and our unwavering commitment... Moldova is constantly proving in making progress in the accession process.' Von der Leyen and Costa reaffirmed EU support for Moldova's sovereignty amid Russia's full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine as well as continued hybrid threats to Moldova. They condemned Russian interference and discussed measures to bolster Moldova's defences against foreign influence, disinformation and electoral manipulation. Sandu was optimistic about her nation's EU membership, describing how: 'For the first time, we are being seen as a natural part of the European family.' 'Through this summit, the European Union is sending a clear message: Moldova matters.'
France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Hamas says it is ready to start Gaza ceasefire talks 'immediately'
Hamas said Friday it was ready to start talks "immediately" on a proposal for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza after responding in "a positive spirit" to a draft deal envisaging a release of hostages and negotiations on ending the conflict. "The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place" the terms of a draft truce proposal received from Egyptian and Qatari mediators, the militant group said in a statement. Hamas earlier said that it was holding discussions with leaders of other Palestinian factions on the issue. It was not clear if Hamas's statement meant it had accepted the proposal from US President Donald Trump for a 60-day ceasefire. Hamas has been seeking guarantees that the initial truce would lead to a total end to the war, now nearly 21 months old. Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The health ministry in Gaza said the number of Palestinians killed in the territory has passed 57,000. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry is run by medical professionals employed by the Hamas government, and its numbers are widely cited by the UN and international organisations. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages.
