France releases final low‑carbon roadmap as heatwave sparks severe wildfires

The French government published the final version of the third National Low‑Carbon Strategy (SNBC‑3), outlining a pathway to carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan calls for a 4 % annual emissions reduction between 2024 and 2028, but recent data show the drop in 2025 was only about 1.5 %, well below the required pace. The strategy arrives amid a severe heatwave and a tightening of public finances, highlighted by a freeze of €163 million in green funding for local climate projects.

At the same time, intense wildfires have raged in the Var and Gironde regions, prompting President Macron to activate the EU civil‑protection mechanism. International firefighting resources – two Croatian Canadairs, two Portuguese Air Tractors, and heavy‑lift Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia – have been dispatched. The fires underscore criticism that French authorities have not adequately anticipated climate‑driven disasters. Scientific measurements cited in the debate show atmospheric CO₂ at 428.59 ppm (24 July 2026) and CH₄ at 1 937.86 ppb (March 2026), and experts warn that fire incidents could rise by 13‑22 % in coming years if preparedness does not improve.