France unveils third low‑carbon strategy amid heatwave

France announced its third National Low‑Carbon Strategy (SNBC‑3) during a period of intense heat across western Europe. The plan, to be presented at the Ministry of the Ecological Transition and followed by a decree, outlines a target to cut greenhouse‑gas emissions by about 4 % annually from 2024‑2028, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. Key milestones include ending coal use by 2030, oil by 2045 and natural gas by 2050, and an electrification programme for industry, transport and digital sectors launched in April.

The strategy follows a draft released in December and consultations with various bodies. At a recent conference on fossil‑fuel phase‑out in Santa Marta, Colombia, French commitments were praised. The government also announced a €163 million freeze on the Green Fund, raising questions about financing the transition. Early 2026 data show a 4.8 % year‑on‑year drop in emissions, driven by lower heating demand, though the current trend still lags behind the needed trajectory.