Climate: “In France, there is a big dichotomy between speech and actions,” denounces Marine Pouget of the RAC

The UN has once again sounded the alarm on global greenhouse gas emissions trajectories. What do you remember from this observation?

Since the Paris Agreement, the priority has been for developed countries, historical polluters, to massively reduce their emissions. We are not up to the task. The world is now on a warming trajectory of 3.2°C.

Worse, the United States continues to launch new oil and gas sites. In France, there is talk of reopening drilling and mines, and the last three host countries of the climate COPs – Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan – have all opened new oil and gas fields. For decades, we did not want to talk about the exit from fossil fuels. This was the case for the first time last year, at COP28. Now we must act.

In terms of emissions mitigation, France has strong ambitions. Are they followed by effects?

There is a big dichotomy between speeches and actions. France is schizophrenic, very strong in terms of speeches – including in the mouth of Emmanuel Macron – on the reduction of emissions or the exit from fossil fuels, but when it comes to acting on the national level nothing is not happening. The State is not even capable of regulating the activities of fossil fuel companies on its territory and the question, for example, of the transformation of the agricultural model is never raised.

That being said, it must be recognized that France is part of the European Union which remains, in terms of reducing emissions, the worst performers. A situation which risks deteriorating rapidly, considering the future budget cuts which will affect in France, first and foremost, the climate issue, the mitigation of our emissions, the adaptation of the territory and even the protection of biodiversity.

The central issue of COP29 is the question of financing North-South solidarity. Why is this the crux of the matter?

This is the subject which causes the most tension in international negotiations. He's not moving forward. This COP must be an opportunity to discuss climate financing, the total envelope to be put on the table. The last time this discussion took place was in 2009, in Copenhagen. The accumulated delays are enormous. We estimate the needs at $1,000 billion per year. These are colossal sums.

But that is the cost of climate change. These discussions are difficult because, on the one hand, many developed states refuse to see their historical responsibility and, on the other, vulnerable states, terribly impacted by the effects of global warming, do not have the funds to fight.

Is France taking its part to match its historical responsibilities?

France's fair share of climate finance is estimated at $8 billion per year. In terms of amount, it is rather on the right trajectory, with 6 to 7 billion contributed each year. But it pays these sums overwhelmingly in the form of loans, which contributes to the increase in debt of countries in the South. In the form of its participation, Paris is therefore absolutely not exemplary.

On the question of private financing, France brings interesting proposals, but when it comes to talking about public finances, it is extremely reluctant. It's a global problem. The general texts are adopted with guidelines, but the States refuse to define who gives, in what forms and by what deadlines.