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Renewable energies: France, with its strong nuclear power, still refuses the EU’s targets

by AI | 12.Jul 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The French government has sent a climate strategy to the European Commission that sets renewable energy targets well below those of the EU, arguing that its nuclear industry emits few greenhouse gases.

This photograph taken on July 24, 2023 shows the cooling towers of the Bugey nuclear power plant, in the commune of Saint-Vulbas, in the east of France. (Photo: Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)

Paris – France, in dispute with the European Commission for its delay on renewable energies, has sent an updated climate strategy to Brussels that does not raise the ambition on wind and solar as much as required, citing the predominantly decarbonized origin of its energy, thanks to nuclear power.

France has been at odds with Brussels for several years for failing to meet the targets set in 2009 of having 23% renewable energy in its final energy consumption by 2020.

Paris was once again spanked in December by the Commission for its “National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan” (Pniec) setting a target of 33% renewables by 2030 instead of the 44% required by a 2018 directive.

Six months later, France persists, according to the updated version of the Pniec published by the Commission and consulted Thursday by AFP. It prefers to highlight a “decarbonized” target, thus including nuclear, which emits few of the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. (11.07.2024)