France reports 4.8% drop in greenhouse‑gas emissions in Q1 2026

France’s official emissions agency Citepa announced that national greenhouse‑gas releases fell by 4.8% year‑on‑year in the first quarter of 2026, dropping from 103.5 Mt CO₂e to 98.5 Mt CO₂e. The decline, equivalent to about 5 million tonnes of CO₂, was driven mainly by a milder winter that reduced heating demand, cutting natural‑gas use by 12.7% and fuel‑oil consumption by 13.3%. Residential and tertiary sectors accounted for most of the reduction, while industry and construction showed modest gains. Transport emissions fell only slightly, with diesel sales down 5.7% but domestic aviation emissions rising 6.4%.

The climate minister, Monique Barbut, welcomed the result as “good news” but warned that it “must not lead us to relax our efforts” and called for continued decarbonisation. At the same time, French climatologist François Gemenne warned that France is entering a climate phase “the country is not prepared for,” warning of future heatwaves that could become five‑times more frequent by 2050 and temperatures potentially exceeding 50 °C. He urged immediate adaptation of buildings, work schedules and wider climate‑action measures.

The report underscores both the short‑term benefits of a milder season and the longer‑term challenge of meeting France’s annual 5% emissions‑reduction target under its national low‑carbon strategy.