A decade, France has been committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Starting with that of industries which must drastically lower their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Transport, energy, construction, factories: largely helped by the state, all the major sectors of the economy have embarked on the battle and the march in front seems irreversible in our country. A voluntarism that contrasts with what is observed abroad. In the United States, Donald Trump has returned to the White House and leaves the Paris Accords. In China, GHG emissions are getting on the rise. Even the European Union is preparing to lighten its green pact, Yet adopted in 2019. Suffice to say that the general movement slows down and worried. Electricity and its price play a central role in decarbonation policies.
L’Express: In France, electricity represents a quarter of the final energy consumption. What assessment do you draw from orientations in terms of energy mix?
Brice Lalonde: The orientation taken was the right one. Thanks to its nuclear fleet, France benefits from a decarbonated resource. The state played a key role in the 1970s, by developing a reliable network with reactors located throughout the territory. I was not in favor of this choice at the start, but today I recognize that it is a considerable asset to succeed in the energy and industrial transition. However, it is clear that at present, the State no longer suffers electricity sufficiently as a transition lever.
How does this be a problem?
The State no longer takes enough concrete measures to eliminate obstacles to electrification. For example, a house heated thanks to this energy remains penalized compared to that which has a gas boiler, with less advantageous prices. This seems incoherent, especially when France remains the first European nuclear electricity producer. Notable progress has been made in transport with electric vehicles and batteries. But the transition patina. It is imperative to get out of gas and coal. Otherwise we will fail, as the state’s objective recalls, which aims to reach 60 % electricity in final energy consumption by 2050.
Without electrification, does France risk taking an inevitable delay?
Yes, the main issue is the country’s industrial survival. You can’t decarbon without including businesses. If you do without them, they will relocate. This requires massive investments and a radical transformation of production tools. The electrification must be at the heart of this policy because thanks to nuclear we have a universal and pilotable energy, unlike intermittent renewable sources.
Concretely, how can companies take their share in this industrial transition?
But they are already taking a large part! Even before the state ages, most of them were able to measure their carbon footprint and develop strategies to reduce their dependence. However, they are integrated into a global economic system. Without support from the State, they may be crushed by competition, especially American, where no obligation is to be reported as in Europe. It is advisable to harmonize the rules for leaving carbon and, in my opinion, salvation will come above all from the companies themselves.
With this in mind, you offer the creation of a climate business summit. How could it be structured?
This summit would create a place of exchange to define common procedures, share knowledge and discuss the management of sustainable growth. It would also be a way to educate policies about the concrete issues of companies. The transition remains slow and complex to put in place, but the first results materialize. In France, we have observed two consecutive years of drop in greenhouse gas emissions, which is already notable. Companies know their threatened assets, they fear above all that a climate disaster leads to political prohibitions which would force them to unwanted guidelines. They are therefore on the way to change.