‘France’s green reforms must continue’

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has praised France’s green reforms but urged that they must be stepped up. A new report from the group praised reductions in carbon intensity and improvements in energy efficiency, thanks to […]

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has praised France’s green reforms but urged that they must be stepped up.

A new report from the group praised reductions in carbon intensity and improvements in energy efficiency, thanks to the nation’s leadership role in climate change mitigation and green financing.

It says this has already resulted in more secure, affordable and sustainable energy supplies and increased green growth but further investment and policy guidance will be needed to hit sustainable targets, particularly in the nuclear sector.

France plans to cut the share of nuclear power from 78% of electricity produced today, to 50% by 2025, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.

The IEA say the next 10 years will be decisive and France will have to increasingly implement carbon pricing and progress tracking, accelerate decisions on nuclear, reduce barriers to renewable investments and open up its energy markets.

Paul Simons, IEA Deputy Executive Director, said: “France has to implement nothing less than a transformation of its energy system and power market.

“France’s Transition Act is a first-class energy and climate framework, based on a low-carbon strategy, carbon budgets and the related investment planning. France leads on carbon pricing with a long-term carbon price trajectory set by law up to 2030.”

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