Would repeated heatwaves put ecology back at the top of the pile of budgetary priorities? In any case, this is what Monique Barbut, the Minister of Ecological Transition, suggested in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche published on Saturday July 18, when she was pleased to see the envelope allocated to her ministry increase in the next draft budget.
“Ecology will be the most strengthened budget after that of the armies. This is a strong signal. It shows that, even in a demanding budgetary context, protecting the French from climate change remains a priority,” she says.
“I am delighted to have obtained several important decisions, in particular the strengthening of the Green Fund increased to one billion euros. Priority will be given to adaptation to climate change, particularly that of public buildings,” she said.
As a reminder, the Green Fund created in 2023 is intended to help communities adapt territories to climate change. After reaching 2.5 billion euros in 2024, its allocation was gradually reduced to 837 million euros in the 2026 budget, against a backdrop of increased budgetary constraints.
The question of acetamiprid
Also, while the vote on the agricultural emergency bill in the National Assembly is due to take place on July 20, Monique Barbut reaffirmed that the reintroduction, by way of derogation, of banned pesticides such as acetamiprid, remained “the main tense subject”.
“The discussions are progressing but everything is not yet clarified. Everyone agrees that the text has been improved compared to the Senate copy. Of course, the main subject that is still controversial today is acetamiprid. For my part, I am opposed to the reintroduction of this pesticide in France,” said Monique Barbut.
Concerning the doubling of water storage capacity for agricultural purposes by 2025, another controversial measure introduced in the Senate then retained during the Joint Committee, the minister assures that she has “obtained that these are multi-use storage capacities and subject to consultation”. According to her: “everyone will not store in their own corner and only for agricultural needs”, while the current drought raises the question of water sharing in the territories more than ever.
