France: Let the Green revolution begin

Following months of intense work carried out under the chairmanship of the Ministry of ecology and sustainable development that involved the participation of social partners, environmental NGO leaders and representatives of local and regional authorities, Nicolas Sarkozy has marked the beginning of a new era by announcing the start of a green revolution during a speech on the 24th October: ?France is changing to better serve Europe and the world?.

Activists had always feared that not enough of the budget would be dedicated to real pro-sustainability policies. But the figures that have been announced demonstrate an impressive commitment: one billion euros will go towards the development of new energies over the next four years. Research development will thus become not only a priority but an investment into the future. According to Sarkozy, a massive effort must be made, that he compares to the Marshall Plan implemented after the second world war. Remembering the Stern forecast, he added that 1% of the national product will be needed to change habits and means of production.

?Environmental policies are an investment?, insisted Sarkozy sweeping away the idea of ?décroissance? ? decrease. No more big highways except around cities, priority will instead be given to collective transport including the use of rivers for goods. The ?TGV? ? speed train ? will increase in length by some 2, 000 kilometres in the coming years. Importance has also been placed on housing: ?By 2020, all new buildings will have to, by law, produce their own clean energy?. Further, a series of new regulations are expected to be made in all sectors to facilitate the use of renewable energy.

It looks like the European French Presidency wants to tackle some difficult challenges: readying negotiations to achieve sustainable agriculture for 2013; opening a debate at EU level on trading standards with non member states whose goods do not comply with 21st century green criteria; pledging to pursue a common reduced-value added tax in the EU for ?clean? products. It remains to be seen what will really be delivered, and the Parliament has promised to evaluate the progress made, year by year, concluded the President in front of a large audience that included the President of the European Commission and Al Gore.