Paris (AFP)

Secretary of State Emmanuelle Wargon defended on Tuesday in the Senate the energy and climate bill after the resignation of François de Rugy, indicating that it will "ensure (t) the continuity of the State" so that the debates can take place "in the best possible conditions".

In preamble to the general discussion on this text, hitherto carried by the Minister of the Ecological Transition François de Rugy, Sophie Primas (LR), president of the commission of the economic affairs, questioned the government on the very constrained deadlines imposed for the examination of a text "which engages France's energy policy for the next half-century".

"The pompon and apotheosis," she said on a point of order, is the resignation, only a few hours before the start of the examination of the text, François de Rugy. Mrs. Primas thanked Mrs. Wargon "for being there", praising "a form of heroism" to resume a text at short notice.

"I will ensure the continuity of the State and the representation of the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition so that the debates on this important text can take place in the best possible conditions," said Mrs. Wargon.

"There is indeed urgency because all the signals turn red," she said, citing the recent episode of heat wave or the current episode of drought.

"What is playing is the future of the planet," she said, saying "the next few months will have to be those of ecological acceleration".

"This text is a decisive step in the ecological transition," said Mrs. Wargon.

The text sets several ambitious goals in the face of "the ecological and climatic urgency": it plans to reach "carbon neutrality" by 2050, a 40% reduction in fossil energy consumption by 2030 , against 30% previously, the closing of the last coal plants in 2022 ...

It ratifies the postponement from 2025 to 2035 of the objective of reducing the share of nuclear power in electricity production to 50% against more than 70% today. It perpetuates the High Council for the climate set up in November by Emmanuel Macron and provides anti-fraud schemes for energy saving certificates (CEE).

It also provides a progressive device on the energy renovation of homes and "heat sieves".

? 2019 AFP