MINISTER ECOLOGY. While the Ministry of Ecology will undergo a profound transformation, what will be its future perimeters? And who will take the job? Lighting attempt.
This is the major focus of the coming five-year term, promised Emmanuel Macron. Ecology, and more specifically now, ecological planning. The President of the Republic has erected it into a real mantra of his mandate, ensuring that he wants to go “twice as fast” on these questions with the aim of placing the subject “at the heart of the years to come in France.” To this end, the Head of State announced a remodeling of the ecology portfolio, with now very precise outlines and directly under the leadership of Elisabeth Borne, the Prime Minister. The ecological question therefore finds itself in first position in the hierarchy of ministries, which has long monopolized the last places of protocol. It was only under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy that what was then called the “Ministry of Ecology” found itself at the top of the basket, in second place in protocol after Matignon. If it has since hardly moved, the administration has even inherited with Emmanuel Macron, as at the start of the Fillon government, the title of Minister of State. A designation certainly honorary, not giving more weight to the function, but symbolic. If Jean Castex had not renewed this designation, it should not be renewed either during the next reshuffle, the personalities named being placed under the direct responsibility of the Prime Minister. What will the new Ministry of Ecology look like? Who can be named? We take stock.
A new Ministry of Ecology announced
The shift made by Emmanuel Macron in the direction of ecology was concretely translated on April 16. That day, during a meeting in Marseilles (Bouches-du-Rhône) during the interval between the two rounds of the presidential election, the outgoing head of state gave the outlines of the future “green” ministry ( and much more) of the government to come, thus announcing to review the perimeter of a ministry sometimes devoted to the Environment, sometimes to Ecology and Sustainable Development, or, lately, to the Ecological Transition, enlisting, sometimes (as currently ), the Ministry of Transport or the Ministry of Housing. The future government will not include a Ministry of Ecology as such, as known for years. But far from the President of the Republic the idea of suppressing such an administration.
Emmanuel Macron will indeed place ecological issues directly under the supervision of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, herself a former Minister of Ecological Transition. Two delegate ministers will be responsible for two separate, but linked, areas around “ecological planning” (see below). The objective: to considerably reduce interministerial discussions around the ecological question by bringing more cross-functionality into decision-making. “My next Prime Minister will be directly responsible for ecological planning, because this concerns all areas, all sectors, all expenditure, all equipment, all investments, in short all policies, it is not just a policy , it is the policy of politicians, and because it irrefutably demonstrates the importance that we will give to this fight of the century”, declared Emmanuel Macron.
What role for the Minister of Energy Planning?
Two ministers under the control of Elisabeth Borne will therefore be responsible for “ecological planning”. The first will be responsible for energy planning. It will be for him “to make France the first great nation to get out of gas, oil and coal.” An achievable objective according to Emmanuel Macron via the planning of an “energy sobriety strategy, because the energy that pollutes the least is the one that we do not consume.” Among the other missions noted on the job description: multiply by ten the power generated thanks to solar energy, deploy 50 offshore wind farms by 2050, start the construction of six new nuclear reactors – “the only energy that does not produce no greenhouse gases and which does not depend on the weather” -, build a hydrogen strategy for transport (planes, trains, boats, buses). “Hydrogen is produced by electrolysis. For that, we need electricity, it is for this reason among others that we will need in our country to produce more non-carbon electricity by renewables and by nuclear but this carbon-free hydrogen is the one that will allow us to do without fuel oil, natural gas, at the bottom of fossil fuels”, had detailed the then candidate.
What functions for the minister in charge of “ecological and territorial planning”?
The second minister, in charge of the “ecological and territorial planning” file, “will have the mission of organizing with local elected officials the environmental transition in each territory” detailed Emmanuel Macron. Through this administration, the Head of State intends to allow the thermal renovation of 700,000 homes per year during the five-year term, improve air quality by launching a “massive effort” for air purification in schools, hospitals, retirement homes and public buildings, accentuate measures aimed at promoting local products and short circuits in collective catering, but also develop means of transport (electric car “at less than 100 euros per month”, metropolitan RER, bicycle , train) while investing in river and rail freight.
Canfin, Tubiana… Who will be appointed Minister of Ecology?
If the organization of this future ministry, under supervision, of “ecological planning” still remains very vague, who could be promoted in these functions. Barbara Pompili, now ex-minister of the Castex government in charge of this portfolio, does not seem to be in the process of extending her lease at the Roquelaure hotel. So who will succeed him? So far, no names have emerged. That of Pascal Canfin, MEP LREM, is regularly mentioned, him the ex-EELV, president of the Commission for the environment, public health and food safety in Brussels. But the 47-year-old elected official, in charge of the Green Deal (green pact for Europe), had retorted on France info that “the vast majority of solutions to the fight against climate change go through Europe, I think I’m served today.” A continuation of the mission in the corridors of the EU rather than at Matignon, but a relay of weight for France?
Furthermore, the CV ofAgnes Firmin-Le Bodo seems to circulate. The deputy of Seine-Maritime, elected under the banner of the Republicans but passed, since, at Horizons (party of Edouard Philippe), could be part of the new entrants to the government, to the ecological and territorial planning. Not particularly renowned for being a fervent environmental activist, the 50-year-old could be named for the political balance sought by Emmanuel Macron vis-à-vis Edouard Philippe, thus offering a place of choice to one of its members within the new government.
Finally the profile of Laurence Tubiana could also stick. Negotiator for France of the Paris Agreements on the climate in 2015, the president of the French Development Agency is regularly cited during reshuffles for ecological prerogatives. Positioned on the left, she could be a major asset in the government of Elisabeth Borne.
Who are the previous Ministers of Ecology?
The Ministry of Ecology has had various names. It was not until 2002 that it became the Ministry of Ecology, being previously named the Ministry of the Environment. In 20 years, no less than 15 ministers have succeeded:
- Roselyne Bachelot (May 7, 2002 – March 30, 2004)
- Serge Lepeltier (March 31, 2004 – May 31, 2005)
- Nelly Olin (June 2, 2005 – May 15, 2007)
- Alain Juppé (May 18, 2007 – June 18, 2007)
- Jean-Louis Borloo (June 19, 2007 – November 13, 2010)
- Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet (November 14, 2010 – February 22, 2012)
- François Fillon (February 22, 2012 – May 10, 2012)
- Nicole Bricq (May 16, 2012 – June 18, 2012)
- Delphine Batho (June 21, 2012 – July 3, 2013)
- Philippe Martin (July 3, 2013 – March 31, 2014)
- Ségolène Royal (April 2, 2014 – May 17, 2017)
- Nicolas Hulot (May 17, 2016 – September 4, 2018)
- François de Rugy (September 4, 2017 – July 16, 2019)
- Elisabeth Borne (July 16, 2019 – July 3, 2020)
- Barbara Pompili (July 6, 2020 – May 16, 2022)