Paris (AFP)

In the aftermath of marches across France to demand a "real climate law", the National Assembly on Monday began examining a bill "of practical ecology" and "common sense" according to the government, but blasted by environmentalists for his "lack of ambition".

The Minister of Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili praised from the rostrum a "real global cultural shift", which will modify "our lifestyles", with measures such as the abolition of domestic flights in the event of alternatives of less than 2 hours 30 by train, or the ban on the rental of thermal strainers in 2028 (housing classified F and G).

The majority hope to make the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 "credible".

"For a real climate law Stop blah blah": environmental activists have yet strongly criticized the government on Sunday in the streets of many cities.

Some 110,000 people in total marched according to the organizers, 44,000 according to the Ministry of the Interior.

And the High Council for the climate, an independent body, had previously pointed out the "reduced scope" of the planned measures.

After the tabling of more than 7,000 amendments, three weeks of heated discussions began at the Palais Bourbon.

The right, which tries to build its own ecological software of "ground" for 2022, immediately attacked an ecology of "multiplication of taxes and duties".

The LRs are also calling for a "moratorium on wind turbines" and oppose the "judicialization" of environmental issues, with the new offense of "ecocide".

Elected environmentalists such as Delphine Batho and Matthieu Orphelin, conversely, relay the disappointment of the Citizen's Climate Convention (CCC), whose work inspired the bill, but were "unraveled" according to them.

These parliamentarians launched their own "unfiltered debate" on the internet on Monday with experts or members of "civil society".

On the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI) defended in vain a motion to reject the text.

He criticized the "dangerous" shortcomings of the bill, in particular on the "100% renewable", after having pleaded two weeks ago for the exit of nuclear power from the horizon "2030".

"You are discovering ecology now, have you read this law?" Retorted the general rapporteur Jean-René Cazeneuve (LREM), while Valérie Petit (Agir Ensemble) denounced "the pseudo-revolutionary personal soliloquies" of the LFI deputy.

- "Social acceptability" -

Socialists Guillaume Garot and Dominique Potier, for their part, deplored a "billboard" law, with "little bits of things", calling for "concrete proposals" such as a "zero rate loan + Clean driving +" to buy vehicles non-polluting.

On the far right, Marine Le Pen (RN) defended his "localist vision" of ecology, sending back to back the "globalists with" free trade treaties "and" wind turbines ", and the" anti-all ideologues "of ecology.

In committee, MEPs reinforced certain provisions, including the development of bulk in supermarkets, and watered down others, such as the article suggesting the use of a deposit system for glass bottles.

The majority promise "progress" on the thermal renovation of housing with a "financial trajectory" and "support" for households.

The rapporteur Mickaël Nogal indicated that the rental ban on poorly insulated housing would be extended to those classified E in 2034.

Measures in favor of cycling, including the extension of the conversion premium, are also expected.

As for the advertising component, MEPs could define more precisely the “greenwashing” of companies, in order to better sanction it.

For vegetarian menus in canteens, a subject that has recently been controversial, Matignon obviously does not want to go beyond the simple "experimentation" of a daily vegetarian choice in voluntary communities, provided for in the text, according to reports. parliamentary sources.

Within a majority torn between its liberal wing and a more ecological-compatible fringe, Barbara Pompili, former EELV, promotes a path of "crest" between "ecological ambition" and "social acceptability".

The LREM deputies keep in mind the crisis of "yellow vests", born of a tax on fuels, or the sling of "red caps" against the ecotax heavy goods vehicles, under François Hollande.

This caution was visible in committee on sensitive measures such as the possible establishment of a regional ecotax for heavy goods vehicles in communities that so wish.

It is "not an ecotax", but a "specific contribution" demanded by certain regions in a logic of "differentiation", we insist in the majority.

On the platform, LR Julien Aubert joked about this "quasi ecotax" which does not say its name: "for the citizen, it's red cap and red cap".

© 2021 AFP