Scorecard summary:
Fulfilment of Rio Conference Commitment - Red
Current Government Position on Climate Change - Red
Per Capita CO2 Emissions - Green (6.34 metric tons per person in 1992)
National CO2 Emissions - Yellow (362 million metric tons in 1992)
OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
Generally complacent, focused on
utilisation of nuclear
energy, not trying to implement measures to promote energy efficiency or
renewable energy.
NATIONAL CLIMATE PROTECTION GOAL:
France's target is to limit
emissions in 2000
to two tons of carbon per capita, equivalent to 7.3 tons of CO2. However,
projections suggest emissions will exceed this level. CO2 emissions are
low on
a per capita basis compared to other countries because of France's heavy
reliance on nuclear power. This has led the government to propose emission
reductions on a per capita basis with different countries' emission pathways
eventually converging. Their proposals for differentiated commitments
between
countries would effectively mean that no action was required in France.
SPECIFIC FEATURES:
Reduction of CO2 has been greater in France
than in other
countries between 1980 and 1990 due to the active promotion of nuclear
energy,
which was intended to reduce oil imports. Approximately 75 percent of
electricity in France is nuclear. Further nuclear power is officially
considered as a serious option for the rest of the planet, as a
replacement for
coal. France favours a "policies and measures" approach to curbing
greenhouse
gas emissions at international level rather than agreement on emission
reduction
targets and timetables. In particular, it wants subsidies to carbon-intensive
activities to be removed and a progressive CO2 tax to be phased in. However,
France operates domestic subsidies of its own, such as a 50 percent (on
average)
subsidy for space heating.
NEGATIVE FEATURES:
Progress in raising energy efficiency has been
slow since the
late eighties due to low energy prices, particularly for industry, and a
slackening of government efforts. Government funding for energy
efficiency and
for information and technical assistance has suffered large reductions.
Furthermore, there is a discriminatory tax system which does not account for
external costs. Relatively higher taxes on oil products have tended to
promote
the use of electricity (although a significant proportion of space
heating is
produced by fossil fuels).
Despite stated objectives to introduce transport taxes and tackle growth
of consumption in the sector, few actions have been implemented. And although
there have been moves to decentralise some government responsibilities,
energy
policy-making and implementation remain highly centralised. This has
hampered
acceptance of government policy and meant there has been a very closed
process
operating. According to an International Energy Agency team, this needs
overhauling. There is a need for a complete reorientation of policy with
structural changes to institutions and modes of working.
Car manufacturers' cynicism can be summed up in a TV and poster
advertisement which says: "The scientists tell us about global warming
but you
need not worry, with our new air-conditioned cars."
POSITIVE FEATURES: ?
Sources: IEA : Energy Policies of IEA Countries 1996 Review.
Independent NGO
Evaluations of National Plans for Climate Change Mitigations - Central and
Eastern Europe first review, Climate Action Network, Brussels, January 1995.