Introduction: why do we talk about France's carbon footprint?
France's carbon footprint is a key indicator for assessing the environmental impact of economic activities and the final consumption of households and businesses. This footprint includes both direct emissions produced in France and imported emissions linked to goods and products manufactured abroad and then consumed in France.
In the face of climate change, reducing GHG emissions is a national priority. The Stratégie Nationale Bas Carbone (SNBC), spearheaded by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, sets ambitious targets for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. However, despite progress, emissions associated with the most polluting sectors remain high.
What is France's current carbon footprint?
France's carbon footprint stands at 644 million tonnes CO₂ equivalent in 2023, marking a 4.1% decrease on 2022. However, this reduction still falls short of the targets set by the ecological transition and theEuropean Union.
On average, a French person emits 9.4 tonnes of CO₂ per year, a figure still far from theaverage carbon footprint of 2 tonnes per inhabitant targeted for 2050. France's carbon footprint is divided between several sectors of activity:
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Transport: 31% of France's emissions
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Industry: 20% (heavily influenced by direct corporate emissions)
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Agriculture: 19
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Residential and tertiary: 19
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Energy: 10% of total emissions
Which are the most polluting industrial sites in France?
The majority of direct corporate emissions come from 50 industrial sites, which concentrate the bulk of CO₂ releases. Among them, the most polluting are:
ArcelorMittal blast furnaces (Dunkirk and Fos-sur-Mer) → 25% of industrial emissions
The Yara plant (Le Havre) → France's main fertilizer producer, responsible forhigh associated emissions despite reduction commitments
TotalEnergies refineries (Gonfreville-l'Orcher, Donges) → Major impact onFrance's carbon footprint
Lafarge cement plants → Concrete production, one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gases
Arkema and ExxonMobil chemical complexes → Major pollutants in the chemical sector
Which sectors are most responsible for climate disruption in France?
1. Transport: the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions
With 31% of emissions in France, transport is the most polluting sector. Road freight and private cars are the main contributors to this final carbon footprint.
2. Industry: a challenge for the ecological transition
Industry accounts for 20% of France's carbon footprint, notably via the steel, chemicals and cement industries. Despite aid from theEuropean Union, transformation remains slow.
3. Agriculture: a major contributor to GHG emissions
With 19% of associated emissions,French agriculture is a major producer of methane and nitrous oxide, two powerful greenhouse gases.
How does France intend to reduce its carbon footprint?
The government has put in place several strategies to reduce emissions and achieve the objectives of the National Carbon Strategy:
Industrial decarbonization pact: 10 billion euros to support the 50 most polluting industrial sites
Renewable energies and green hydrogen: development of low-carbon solar, wind and nuclear energy
Electrification of transport and energy renovation: Reducing direct household emissions
Low-carbon agriculture: Reduction of nitrogen fertilizers and support for agroecology
Controlling imported emissions: Theimported carbon footprint accounts for almost 50% of emissions associated with French consumption.
Which industrial zones in France have low carbon emissions?
Some areas are becoming hubs of ecological transition:
Dunkirk: Development ofgreen hydrogen and CO₂ capture.
Fos-sur-Mer: Pooling of low-carbon energies between companies
Le Havre:Port infrastructure electrification projects
Vallée de la Chimie (Lyon): Innovations in green chemistry and corporate carbon recycling
Sources to read on carbon footprint and ecological transition
📚 "Stratégie Nationale Bas Carbone" - French Ministry of Ecological Transition
📚 "Chiffres clés climat France" - Insee & Climate Action Network
📚 "Comprendre et réduire son empreinte carbone" - Book by Jean-Marc Jancovici
A personality to follow on the ecological transition
👤 Jean-Marc Jancovici: engineer and carbon expert
Creator of the carbon footprint and founder of Carbone 4, he is a key voice in debates on the ecological transition and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The carbon footprint of the French: figures, calculations and solutions for reducing it
Thecarbon footprint of a French person represents all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to final consumption, whether produced in France or imported from abroad.
In 2023, it stood at 9.4 tonnes of CO₂ per capita, a figure down on 1990 but still well above the target of 2 tonnes per capita by 2050 to limit global warming.
Evolution and trends in the French carbon footprint
Over the years, thecarbon footprint of the French has decreased thanks to changes inenergy production, improvements in the energy efficiency of buildings and the rise of low-carbon services. However, imports account for an increasing proportion of the total: today, almost 50% of France's carbon footprint comes from products manufactured abroad. This means that, even if direct emissions in France are falling, the overall impact of French consumer activities remains high.
How can we reduce our carbon footprint in France?
To limit their impact on the climate, the French can adopt several strategies:
1**) Reduce energy consumption**: opt for well-insulated homes, use renewable energies, limit gas heating.
2**) Change modes of transport**: use public transport, bicycles or electric cars to limit emissions linked to the transport sector.
3**) Adopt a more sustainable diet**: eat less meat, favor local and seasonal produce, limit food waste.
4**) Reduce consumption of material goods**: buy second-hand, recycle, extend the life of electronic devices to reduce emissions linked to imports and industrial production.
5**) Encourage low-carbon services and businesses**: choose greenenergy suppliers, support businesses that reduce their carbon footprint and limit consumption of polluting services.
Things to remember ✅
✔ France's carbon footprint stands at 644 million tonnes CO₂ in 2023.
✔ Transport, industry and agriculture are the main GHG emitters
✔ The most polluting industrial sites are in Dunkirk, Fos-sur-Mer and Le Havre
✔ The French government is investing massively in the ecological transition, but the reduction in emissions remains insufficient
