French greenhouse gas emissions decreased by a remarkable 5.8% in 2023, surpassing expectations, according to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. This positive news came after France’s climate change monitoring association Citepa predicted a 4.8% reduction earlier in March.
Attal announced, “We have the final 2023 CO2 emissions figures from Citepa. They have actually decreased in France by 5.8%.” The country had already seen a 2.7% drop in emissions in 2022, showcasing its commitment to environmental sustainability.
With a target of reducing greenhouse emissions by 50% by 2030 to meet European obligations, France is focused on accelerating its efforts. The ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is also driving its environmental policies.
Despite the government’s optimism, some environmental groups argue that these reductions are temporary. Legal actions have been taken against the state to push for stronger actions to compensate for sluggish progress from 2015-18.