When the Paris agreements were signed following Cop21, the world committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming below 1.5°C. If this objective seems utopian today, it is above all the fault of our carbon footprints.
After a serious decline in 2022 and 2023 (-5.6%), France’s greenhouse gas emissions are starting to rise again. The Citepa (Interprofessional technical center for the study of atmospheric pollution)the organization responsible for calculating France’s carbon footprint, has just published its report for the third quarter of this year 2024.
Over this period, French emissions increased by 0.5% year-on-year. A result which only confirms the trend visible since the start of 2024. It is nevertheless the first time since 2021 (and the post-covid recovery) that France’s emissions are up by a quarter over the other.
Building and transport
To understand this comeback in greenhouse gas emissions, we must look at the most polluting industries. In the case of France, it is construction and transport work that generates the majority of our carbon footprint.
With regard to road traffic, for example, Citepa notes an increase in emissions of 1.1% in the third quarter of 2024. But it is really the world of construction which is weighing down the figures. With an increase in emissions of almost 11%, development work is not the only one responsible.
Citepa also points out the environmentally unfriendly heating systems which have been active since September in certain regions. Despite this alarming figure, other sectors of activity bring a smile. This is particularly the case for domestic air traffic. Its emissions fell by 4.1% in the third quarter, confirming the trend already observed in 2023 with a drop of 3.5%.
The 2030 goals still achievable
France has a major project to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The national objective would be to fall below 270 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. To reach such a figure, it is still necessary reduce the country’s emissions by 4.7% per year.
Such a reduction would allow France to respect its European commitments, a 55% reduction in its emissions compared to 1990. In the long term, the objective would be to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050. To achieve this, it will be necessary redouble our efforts, France having failed to meet its objectives over the 2015-2018 period.
