Emmanuel Macron has promised to found a new Ministry of Ecology, currently of the Ecological Transition. On the menu: ecological planning. The outlines have already been drawn. But who will hold the position?
It is “the fight of the century”, the one in which France was condemned for inaction: ecology. Whatever the charges brought by the court (in February 2021) against him, Emmanuel Macron wants to move forward, he who promised, in Marseilles, on April 16, to place the file “at the heart of the years to come in France”. To go “twice as fast”, as he had assured that same day, the President of the Republic announced that he was reviewing the scope of a ministry sometimes devoted to the Environment, sometimes to Ecology and Development. sustainability, or, more recently, to the Ecological Transition, enlisting, sometimes (and currently), the Ministry of Transport or even that of Housing. The future government should not include such a ministry. At least independently. Because far from Emmanuel Macron the idea of removing such an administration. A remodel is planned.
Two ministers in charge of energy, ecological and territorial planning
The President of the Republic plans to place ecological issues directly under the supervision of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Two delegate ministers will be in charge of two distinct but linked perimeters around “ecological planning”. The first will be in charge of “energy planning”, dealing with issues of energy sobriety, renewable energies, hydrogen, as well as nuclear power. The objective displayed by Emmanuel Macron: “to make France the first nation to get out of gas, oil and coal.”
As for the second deputy minister, he will be in charge of “ecological and territorial planning”. A term that encompasses transport, thermal renovation, as well as the quality of water, air and food. The mission: “to organize with local elected officials the environmental transition in each territory” according to the job description described by the Head of State, who had, still in Marseille during the between-two-rounds, provided details: ” change our means of moving on a daily basis”, “reinvest in river and rail freight”, “accelerate the renovation of housing, at least 700,000 per year over the next five years”. A long-term project. But Emmanuel wants to go “twice as fast” in the quest to reduce greenhouse gases. In focus: achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
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? The CV of Laurence Tubiana would also have been slipped. 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)