France or Germany, which country is better at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its factories?

France and Germany share, more or less, the same national low-carbon strategies. The former aims for neutrality in terms of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the latter by 2045. Since the industrial sector alone accounts for 21% of emissions in the European Union, it is relevant to compare the performances of these two neighboring countries, major economic players on the continent. This is the work carried out by La Fabrique de l’industrie, a think tank close to French employers, in collaboration with the McKinsey firm. In a study carried out by economist David Lolo and made public on Thursday, September 5, the think tank wonders whether industrial France is greener or not than its German counterpart.

According to Eurostat data, French factories are on average more carbon intensive than those across the Rhine. In terms of “scope 1” greenhouse gas emissions (which result from the direct activities of a company and its processes), “France has a manufacturing industry that is nearly 30% more carbon intensive than Germany,” Eurostat notes. On the other hand, if we focus on “scope 2” emissions (linked to energy consumption by these companies), “France’s less carbon-intensive electricity mix works in its favor”.

The specificity of the productive fabrics of the two countries affects their performances. Metallurgy, chemistry, cement and oil refining, all very carbon-intensive, are more present in France than in Germany. Conversely, certain less carbon-intensive activities, such as the automobile industry or the manufacture of machinery and equipment, are over-represented across the Rhine. Germany’s better results can also be explained by its technological advances. “An industry that is better anchored in high-end production generates more added value than its competitors, without necessarily producing more greenhouse gas emissions, which reduces its carbon intensity and its energy intensity.”explains David Lolo.

“France is catching up”

In the sector details, the study highlights that the French and German steel industries are close in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Germany is ahead in cement production, but France “catch up” in the use of alternative fuels. Conversely, French glassmaking is less emitting than its German counterpart, but this performance is explained by the weight of customer markets. “The French glass industry is more positioned on the manufacture of hollow glass [moins émettrice] in comparison with the German one, because it counts the beverage and perfume sectors among its main outlets, whereas its German counterpart mainly supplies the automobile industry with flat glass [plus émetteurs] »the study explains.

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