Dispatch from France | June '25
***Our weekly Dispatches provide an overview of the most relevant recent and upcoming developments for the shift to climate neutrality in selected European countries, from policy and diplomacy to society and industry. For a bird's-eye view of the country's climate-friendly transition, read the respective 'Guide to'.***
Stories to watch in the weeks ahead
Stories to watch in the weeks ahead
- Energy plans: The backlash to France’s , or PPE 3, is not over. More than 160 senators urged prime minister François Bayrou to suspend the publication of the report, which sets the nation’s energy strategy for the next ten years, and several lawmakers and former energy executives have called for a moratorium on its findings being released. Regardless, the government is preparing to ratify a revised text – but is in the coming weeks. Among the organisations that took part in , the French Academy of Sciences pointed out that the report was . The plan sets out a number of targets, including in France’s final energy consumption to 30 percent by 2035, against 58 percent in 2023. Bayrou intends to publish .
- Blackout consequences: The causes of the massive blackout which hit Spain, Portugal and southern France on April 28 continue to be unclear, but the incident has reignited a debate over renewables. Spain’s high level of solar power production was suggested as by some commentators, which . Whatever the true cause, the power outage gave the right and far right in France an opportunity to reassert at a time when wind and solar power are growing rapidly but . This could ultimately lead to negative electricity prices, . Some experts have called on the government to stop developing renewables, while others have advised to think long term and only moderate their rollout.
- Nuclear uncertainties: After the Court of Auditors to build six new next-generation nuclear reactors, known as EPR2, due to , the French government announced that they instead of 2035. State-owned utility firm EDF had also previously said that it would to 2026. A recent brought the debate about the future of France’s ageing fleet of nuclear reactors back to life. And, as summer approaches, warm temperatures could lead to EDF once again. Meanwhile, , which sought to favour nuclear power production in France, was .
- Climate leadership: As transatlantic ties crumble and the United States backtracks on climate progress, including by withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, France is pushing for the European Union and China to . Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French minister for the green transition, who met with her Chinese counterparts in late May ahead of a Beijing-Brussels summit this summer, said that ””, including on both parties’ commitment to the Paris Agreement. The French government hopes to use the summit to discuss in paying to help Global South nations combat climate change and its consequences.
The latest from France – last month in recap
The latest from France – last month in recap
- Clean energy: So far in 2025, France’s , with combined generation from nuclear, solar, wind and hydropower plants recording their highest output since 2019. French power producers generated some 95 percent of the country’s electricity supply from clean sources, which exceeds clean power production in many other European nations by far.
- Direction change: before the end of his term in July on the back of conflicts with the state and complaints from large industrial clients over rising electricity costs. , senior executive vice-president in charge of the company’s industry and services unit, was approved in principle in late April.
- Ocean protection: Ahead of the United Nations summit in Nice, France, on ocean emergency in early June, president Emmanuel Macron vowed and pushed other countries , which is designed to protect international waters. With oceans absorbing 30 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, the French leader , which received sufficient pledges of support from countries attending the summit. The treaty can be implemented if at least 60 countries have adopted it.
- Fast fashion: The French Senate had earlier in June presented last year, which aims to curb the influx of environmentally unfriendly, ultra-cheap clothing brands that are flooding the market, many of them from China. According to state environment agency, in France and, ultimately, they end up decomposing in landfills, which generates greenhouse gas emissions and releases harmful chemicals that can contaminate soil and water. Their production and transport require large volumes of energy, which often raises the level of emissions. The amended bill has drawn criticism from all sides. While senators from the right-wing Republican party want to specifically target the Chinese fast fashion giants despite warnings that this would with the Asian country, ecologists have .
Juliette’s picks – highlights from upcoming events and top reads
Juliette’s picks – highlights from upcoming events and top reads
- For RFI, journalist Alison Hird takes a look at France’s first Fontaine d’Ouche, a social housing district in Dijon, now produces more energy than it consumes thanks to solar panels, smart technologies and deep renovations. As the head of Dijon Métropole and the city’s former mayor, François Rebsamen, explains: “We’re proving that a human-scale city can be at the forefront of ecological innovation.”
- Since his return to the White House, Donald Trump has been on a crusade to strip researchers of all support. Is there a risk of contagion on our side of the Atlantic? French historian and author Aurélie Luneau speaks with climate experts on how to face the difficult geopolitical and economic context and cope with .
- Beyond France, is worth a read. While many of us may regularly use the term “climate injustice”, we now have figures to understand how consumption and investments contribute to worsening the climate crisis. According to the study, which , the world’s wealthiest 10 percent are responsible for two thirds of global warming, reinforcing evidence that wealth disparities and climate impacts are closely linked.
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