France’s New Climate Laws, a Pebble in the Sea?

The new climate law in France, is a great step for environmental issues, but insignificant for the Green Party. On Tuesday, May the 4th, French’s Assembly adopted the new “loi climat” with 332 for, 77 against, and 145 abstentions. After 110 hours of talks, a record under the 5th Republic, the Assembly adopted the new text.

A key point of Macron’s program.

On October 2019, France decided to take next steps towards fighting climate and environmental issues. A group of 150 people, all chosen randomly, came together and created the “Convention citoyenne sur le Climat”. The goal of this convention was to propose new steps and ideas in order to tackle the different environmental problems that France, the EU, and the World are facing. Furthermore, some of the measures from this accords are: the end of interior flights, increased infrastructure for the use of bicycles, and the creation of ecocide sanctions. Moreover, this was a cornerstone and a main point of French President Macron’s program. He promised it would be a key point at the beginning of his campaign. Although this is a new step toward more sustainable and eco-friendly measures, many Green organizations like Green Peace, or members or the French Green party are voicing criticism towards this plan.

Not enough, a massive letdown

Although progress, and notable steps towards a more Green country, this plan drew criticism from the main environmental actors. Green Peace is talking about a “missing Rendez-vous”, and Mathieu Orphelin (French Green Party) who voted against this law, stated “it is 15 years too late”. In addition, Extinction Rébellion (XR) a global environment movement, took action in front of the Assembly. A group of 12 people chained themselves in front of the Palais Bourbon (French Assembly), and burnt several items, as a sign of protest against this plan. They insisted that members of parliament needed to backtrack on 12 propositions they withdrew from the project. Despite the protests, and the concern, the law is now headed to the Senate.

What’s next ?

Now the law has been approved in the Assembly it will be sent to the Senate in June with hopes of being implemented as quickly as possible. French President, Emmanuel Macron and his party members rejoiced after the law was adopted. Macron made Climate Change a key fight for his presidency this is a victory for Macron’s party LREM.(La République en Marche!). However criticism for this project is still strong and many are still question how it will be implemented efficiently. Moreover, how it will also affect France and its population, and how they will deal with this new resolution. France has been dealing with environmental issues in a slow and steady approach, notably in agriculture and transports. This new resolution is one of the first major steps towards building a better and greener country. Summer 2021 will be a crucial moment for these issues.