France's Climate Progress Stalls: Emissions Cuts Lag

France's greenhouse gas emissions saw a reduced decline of 1.6% in 2025, marking the second year of slowed progress. This figure, released by Citepa, falls significantly short of the necessary pace to achieve 2030 climate targets, which demand cuts nearly three times larger than observed. The nation's Minister for Ecological Transition acknowledged the encouraging but insufficient nature of the decrease, calling for collective remobilization across all emitting sectors.

While France initially boosted energy conservation following the 2022 Ukraine invasion, its decarbonization drive has faltered in key industries. Sectors like industry, agriculture, and transport showed improvements, but energy and waste treatment emissions remained nearly flat. This stagnation underscores the urgency for France to accelerate its transition away from fossil fuels, a point emphasized by climate advocates concerned about both climate and geopolitical risks.

The situation in France mirrors that of Germany, where emissions also slowed their reduction rate. The European Union, however, continues to pursue its ambitious goal of a 90% emissions cut by 2040. As global temperatures continue to rise, France's ability to meet its climate commitments by 2030 and 2050 remains a critical challenge.