The High Council for the Climate published its annual report on Wednesday evening. The independent body responsible for judging France’s efforts to reduce its greenhouse emissions and its adaptation to global warming once again delivers a bitter observation. If there are advances, the problems are still numerous, and above all, the rhythm is not sufficient.
Admittedly, it is no longer a policy of small steps, but it is not yet a rush… The fight against global warming relies on two legs: mitigation and adaptation. And, on these two points, we are far from the mark.
First of all, the mitigation of global warming, ie concretely, the reduction of human emissions of greenhouse gases, responsible for global warming: it was -2.9% in France last year. An honorable result, but due in particular to economic factors, such as a warm winter. The pace must accelerate, efforts must be doubled, notes the High Council for the Climate.
As for adaptation, the drought and forest fires in 2022 illustrated the shortcomings. Some 72,000 hectares burned and France had to call on foreign resources to deal with the blazes. More than 2,000 municipalities have had a water supply problem and 8,000 municipalities have requested recognition as a “natural disaster” due to the effects of the shrinkage-swelling of clay soil, which cause cracks in buildings. The cost of the phenomenon for insurance, “estimated at 2.9 billion euros, is at the limit of sustainable according to the Central Reinsurance Fund”, notes the HCC.
“Decreases in yield of 10% to 30%” in agriculture, hydroelectric production “20% lower than the 2015-2019 average”, excess heat-related mortality… the HCC analyzes the economic and social impacts one by one .
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France is today not ready to face the consequences of global warming, we read in the report. However, laws are adopted, commitments are made, but it is their implementation that fails, often due to a lack of funding.
