Greenhouse gas emissions in France have fallen more than initially estimated in 2024 (-3.0%) and in 2025 (-2.1%), even if the pace is slowing compared to previous years, Citepa announced on Tuesday June 16.
“If the pace of this reduction slows down compared to the years 2022 (-6.8%) and 2023 (-3.9%), the results remain more favorable than those anticipated by the last estimate”, which “proposed reductions of 1.8% in 2024 and 1.5% in 2025”, notes this organization responsible for establishing the official assessment of French emissions.
This new, more complete assessment takes into account data that had not been included in previous estimates, such as the strong reduction in emissions associated with electricity production in Reunion in 2024, explains Citepa.
The latter also provides a first estimate for emissions (excluding carbon sinks such as forests) for the first quarter of 2026, which are down significantly by 5.2% compared to the first quarter of 2025. A reduction “mainly driven by the decline in emissions from buildings, transport and the manufacturing industry”, according to the report.
Stay on course
Citepa emphasizes that France will have to significantly accelerate its decarbonization in the coming years to meet its climate objectives, formalized in its 3rd National Low Carbon Strategy (SNBC 3): “from 2026, annual reductions of around 5 to 6% will be necessary to stay on the trajectory defined” by this text.
“The increasingly early and intense heatwaves that endanger the most vulnerable are a new alarm signal to remind public decision-makers of the need to act faster and stronger for the climate,” commented Anne Bringault, program director of the Climate Action Network (RAC).
“This is a vital issue for the climate, but also for our economic sovereignty by freeing us from our dependence on massively imported oil and fossil gas,” she underlines.
