Dispatch from France | August '26
*** Our weekly Dispatches provide an overview of the most relevant recent and upcoming developments for the shift to climate neutrality in selected European countries, from policy and diplomacy to society and industry. For a bird's-eye view of the country's climate-friendly transition, read the respective 'Guide to'. ***
07 Aug 2026, 09:00
Camille Lafrance, Juliette Portala
Stories to watch in the weeks ahead
- France to use its weight on ETS reform – The EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is entering a new phase, with an ongoing revision that marks one of Europe’s most important climate policy decisions of the decade. France is a key player in the negotiations, thanks to the weight of its industrial sector and its mostly nuclear-powered, low-carbon electricity sector. The government has not questioned the European carbon market in principle, but it is advocating for better protection for industries exposed to international competition. Paris is calling for a relaxation of the carbon market by also extending free allowances for certain industries. Newspaper Le Monde reported that the French government lobbied against the inclusion of international aviation in ETS. With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the government is also seeking to prevent rising energy or fuel costs from reigniting social tensions. Several industrial sectors support this approach, having warned for years that they would lose competitiveness if the price of carbon rose more rapidly in Europe than among their main competitors.
- Investments in offshore wind power – The French state has pledged a total of 260 million euros in subsidies for the development of 5 ports across France to accommodate floating offshore wind power projects. The energy ministry said that these subsidies, granted as part of the France 2030 investment programme, will enable the ports to provide the infrastructure needed to host manufacturing and assembly sites for floating offshore wind farms. The government's goal is to have 6 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity in operation by 2040. By 2050, France’s offshore wind support plan, approved by the EU in July, could total up to 63 billion euros of support for eleven offshore wind farms (i.e. 11.1 GW, to generate up to 47.8 TWh of renewable electricity per year).
- When will a fossil fuel ad ban come into effect? – The government confirmed during a presentation of its major electrification plan that a decree banning all advertising for fossil fuels (petroleum products, natural gas and biogas) is set to be published by the end of the year. The plan aims to stimulate demand for electricity and reduce France’s dependence on hydrocarbons. In theory, advertising campaigns related to the marketing of fossil fuels, or which promote them, are already prohibited under the Climate and Resilience Act passed in 2021. However, the Act's implementation and enforcement are still pending the publication of the dedicated decree on a fossil fuel ad ban.
The latest from France – last month in recap
- Unprecedented heatwaves – France was among the countries hit the hardest by recurring heatwaves across Europe since early summer. In June, the country recorded its hottest day ever, with temperatures climbing to 44.3 degrees Celsius in the southwestern Landes region. The estimated number of excess deaths due to heat-related stress between 17 June and 2 July nearly reached 6,000. July was then the hottest month ever recorded, with an average 24.9 degrees Celsius, according to weather service Météo-France. With rainfall nearly 70 percent below average, the country was also at a very high risk of wildfires, which occurred at a massive scale and in several regions. These tinderbox conditions led to the single largest wildfire in France since 1949, with more than 42,000 hectares burnt in the Bordeaux region in late July.
- Energy transition needs to be accelerated – The High Council for Climate (HCC) has deemed French policies to be “insufficient” both in terms of mitigation and adaptation. The independent advisory body of scientists, economists, and technical experts is calling for the acceleration of emissions reductions, improved funding for adaptation and the prevention of climate-related delays from exacerbating social inequalities. To meet its climate goals, the country would need to achieve an annual reduction of over four percent by 2028, roughly double the current rate.
- Cuts to the Green Fund raise questions amid climate challenges – The Green Fund (or the Fund to Accelerate the Ecological Transition in Local Communities), which was intended to finance the ecological transition of municipalities from 2023 onwards, including adaptation measures, has been reduced by almost 80 percent in the last two years. As part of the 2026 budget bill, its budget dropped from 2.5 billion to 837 million euros. In late May, amid a major heatwave, the government announced further cuts to the fund totalling 163 million euros. Elected local officials are questioning the government’s priorities, given the growing need to adapt to climate-related risks.
- TotalEnergies banks astronomical profits amid soaring oil and gas prices – TotalEnergies announced that it had doubled its profits year-on-year, to 5.4 billion US dollars for the second quarter 2026. The group benefitted hugely from persistently high oil prices, despite the price cap at the pump (set at €1.99 per litre for petrol and €2.25 for diesel at all its petrol stations). Accused of profiting from a crisis, the company is facing criticism from NGOs such as Greenpeace France, Oxfam, and the Climate Action Network, who are denouncing its “superprofits” against the backdrop of climate and geopolitical crises. They are calling for urgent legislation to tax oil companies' windfall profits.
- Declining profitability of the electric power system – Conversely, EDF (Électricité de France, the main government-owned electric utility company) anticipates a decline in its profitability in 2026. Despite an increase in nuclear power generation, the drop in the prices at which EDF sells its electricity on the markets is weighing on the group. Additionally, heat waves are forcing the company to shut down some nuclear reactors, and are reducing electricity generation from hydroelectric dams. Three reactors were temporarily shut down and seven have had their output reduced due to the heat waves. Despite being heavily indebted, EDF plans to build six new reactors, at a construction cost it estimates at 72.8 billion euros.
- Trade association to advocate for French battery storage industry – Leading French developers and operators of stationary battery storage systems have established Stockage Énergie France, the sector’s first trade association. Large batteries could store excess electricity to be used during periods of high demand, stabilising the grid in the face of intermittent renewable energy sources. The association's press release emphasised that “over the next two years, this industry will experience unprecedented growth in France”, and estimates that the need for stationary storage will exceed 6 GW of capacity connected to the high-voltage grid by 2030, representing nearly 4 billion euros in private investment.
Camille’s picks – highlights from upcoming events and top reads
- Scientists call for climate emergency law – In an op-ed published in the newspaper Le Monde, a group of scientists (including members of the IPCC), politicians, and civil activists are calling for a “climate emergency law” as the country faces tangible impacts of climate change. They condemn “the inconsistency and futility of the political debate” in the face of yet another series of climate warning signs. They propose banning French companies from lobbying for, or from participating in any new fossil fuel projects, whether in France or elsewhere (such as coal mines, oil wells or gas fields), citing European targets of 90 percent emissions reductions by 2040, and climate neutrality by 2050. They also propose the creation of a crime they term 'globocide' to address actions that undermine the habitability of the planet and contribute to the disappearance of the biosphere. Finally, they are calling for a Green Fund of 20 billion euros, dedicated to regional adaptation efforts.
- Renewable energy maps – The law to accelerate renewable energy production enables municipalities to designate 'acceleration zones' for the development of renewable energy within their territories, after consultations with residents. To facilitate access to this data, the energy transition ministry has set up a mapping portal. This portal provides information on regional production capacities, as well as local challenges and regulatory constraints. Meanwhile, RTE and Enedis, the operators of the electricity transmission and distribution networks, have published a map showing “constrained areas”, which will be impossible to develop for large-scale wind and solar projects in the coming years. It shows that 10 percent of France is in a "saturated" zone, where no capacity is available for at least 5 years.
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