Macron’s green credentials on the line over bill environmentalists warn falls short of climate goals

French Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili

Credit: CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS

Emmanuel Macron’s green credentials were on the line on Wednesday as he sent a new climate bill to parliament that environmental groups insist is not radical enough to see France meet its goals for cutting emissions.

The so-called climate and resilience bill, presented as a "glimmer of hope amid a gruelling pandemic", is meant to reflect proposals made by a “climate convention” of 150 randomly chosen citizens guided by experts.

The convention was a response to the "yellow vest" protest movement, which called for more direct democracy.

The bill, which incorporates many of their recommendations, aims to cut French carbon emissions by 40 per cent in 2030 from 1990 levels. The Macron administration hopes it will convince voters that the French president’s pledge to “make our planet great again” was more than mere greenwashing.

Measures include a ban on flights for trips that can be done by train in less than two-and-a-half hours and on renting out poorly insulated housing from 2028, as well as a ban on building shopping centres in natural areas, advertising fossil fuel and on the most-polluting vehicles from 2030.

However, it was criticised by Greenpeace as a "sleight of hand” and “mini-measures”.

The independent economic, social and environmental council, Cese, warned that while the measures were “pertinent in general”, they were often “limited”, “deferred” and “subject to such conditions as to instil doubt over their enactment in the short term”.

However, Mr Macron’s environment minister, Barbara Pompili, a former Greens party MP, said: "I never thought a green transition would be as simple as taking your ruler and drawing a straight line.”

"This is not only about changing the engines in our cars, the machines in our factories, but also about a change in civilisation, culture and way of life," she added after the cabinet meeting chaired by Mr Macron.

A French court ruled earlier this month the French government was at fault for not doing enough to combat climate change, in what environmental campaigners called a landmark ruling that could pile pressure on other countries to do likewise.