Dispatch from France | September '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'. ***
11 Sep 2026, 09:00
Camille Lafrance, Juliette Portala
Stories to watch in the weeks ahead
- Spending reset – Since the start of the year, France has seen over 7,300 excess deaths during heatwaves. The country was among the three EU countries hardest hit by wildfires, with over 350 fires by the end of August – only Italy and Spain saw even more. According to environment minister Monique Barbut, the consequences could cost France up to 15 billion euros, making it even harder to reach the government target to cut the public deficit below 5 percent of gross domestic product.
- Climate reality – Against this backdrop, the candidates in next year’s presidential election will need to take worsening effects of climate change more seriously. A case in point is France’s Green Fund, which aims to help local municipalities adapt to climate change – but it went from more than 2 billion euros in 2024 to just 837 million euros in the 2026 budget law. The government froze a further 20 percent (162.5 million euros), which green party leader Marine Tondelier described as climate denial. Meanwhile, the far right, which has continuously undermined green regulations, cast the recent blazes as evidence that president Emmanuel Macron is failing to protect citizens – a view that echoes a July survey, in which 74 percent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with climate adaptation policies. Yet, those competing for his job may not do better: French climatologist Jean Jouzel said that none of the presidential candidates grasp the reality and scale of global warming.
- Energy vulnerability – The Middle East crisis, in particular the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has kept the issue of energy sovereignty in the foreground in France, where prices at the pump continue to rise. France ranks among the top ten countries worst hit by swelling fossil-fuel import bills, with an estimated 9.5 billion euros above pre-conflict market expectations paid for diesel between March and August this year. Beyond energy imports, the disruptions to maritime trade are projected to dent chemical production the most, as the sector heavily relies on petroleum derivatives. On the other hand, other energy-intensive industries could partially be spared, given that France generates a large share of low-carbon electricity due to its reliance on nuclear energy.
The latest from France – last month in recap
- Summer tinderbox – Hit by recurring heatwaves, France lived through its hottest month ever in July. Combined with drought, this triggered one of its worst wildfire seasons, which pushed over 200,000 people out of their homes. The government promised an aid package worth 12 million euros to the southwestern departments of Gironde and Landes, and fast-tracked reconstruction permits and temporary waivers on property taxes and social security contributions for local businesses. In total, the relief effort could surpass 100 million euros.
- EDF can’t take the heat – Just like last summer, extreme heat forced state-owned utility EDF to reduce output or shut down several nuclear reactors, as environmental regulations to protect aquatic life strictly limit the temperature of the water that the corporation can discharge back into rivers. Once again, it included the Gravelines nuclear power station, whose cooling systems were clogged by a massive influx of jellyfish – rising sea temperatures provide the species with more time and better conditions to reproduce. As a result, France was reporting a record 20 percent shortfall in nuclear power production capacity on August 12. The situation could get even worse in September.
- Goodbye fossil ads – As part of broader decarbonisation efforts, the French government has confirmed that the decree relating to the ban on fossil fuel advertising would be published by the end of 2026, and that the ban would go into effect at the start of 2027. In theory, France was the first European country to enact a nationwide ban on fossil fuel ads when it passed the Climate and Resilience Act in 2021. However, it only covers energy products directly related to fossil fuels, and still depends on the publication of a decree.
Juliette's picks – top reads
- Heatwaves help crocodiles – The heatwaves caught France by surprise for more than one reason this summer. As reported by France 24, 10 Nile crocodiles at a wildlife park in southern France hatched without human assistance for the first time. In the wild, the reptiles rely on subterranean environments for egg incubation, while zoos usually use controlled incubators to monitor temperature and humidity. The park’s director called this “unprecedented” process “a marker of climate change.”
- Wildfire reporting with a gap – Two-thirds of UK newspaper articles that covered wildfires during the summer didn’t mention climate change, according to an analysis by non-profit organisation Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit. The Fire Brigades Union called on the media to make the link between fires and worsening climate conditions, or else “risk making an increasingly dangerous situation look normal.”
All texts created by the Clean Energy Wire are available under a “Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0)”. They can be copied, shared and made publicly accessible by users so long as they give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.