Decarbonization: Macron brings together the most polluting industrialists on Tuesday

Europe 1 with AFP 9:25 p.m., November 3, 2022

Emmanuel Macron will bring together representatives of the 50 industrial sites most emitting greenhouse gases in France on Tuesday to encourage them to accelerate their decarbonization, the Elysée announced on Thursday.

"On the occasion of COP 27 (UN climate conference), the President of the Republic wanted France to make another step towards accelerating climate issues", explained an adviser to the head of the state.

Emmanuel Macron will participate Monday in the 27th UN climate conference which will bring together nearly 200 countries in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt from November 6 to 18.

"If France has during the previous five-year period (2017-2022) met all of its objectives with a reduction in five years of around 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, it is time to accelerate (. .) and to double the rate of reduction in the coming five-year term", noted the Elysée, recalling that it was a campaign commitment from President Macron.

>>

- Climate: commitments "very far" from being sufficient before the COP, warns the UN

Industry accounts for 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in France, particularly in the metallurgy, chemicals, glass and cement sectors.

The 50 sites whose leaders will be present on Tuesday at the Elysee Palace alone represent half of industry emissions and 10% of France's total emissions, said the presidency, without revealing the list upstream.

"Decarbonize sites and offer them an industrial future" 

The Head of State must make a number of announcements to encourage them to achieve their decarbonization, which is becoming a key issue in global competition, added the Elysée, again without further details.

"We are in a globalized world with extremely aggressive approaches from other countries which put industrialists in a certain form of tension", explained a presidential adviser, noting the means deployed by China and the United States to attract manufacturers who want to decarbonize.

"We must ensure that investments are made on our industrial sites in France, it is critical both for employment and the sovereignty" of the States, he added, otherwise the sites will be " ultimately condemned".

"What we are looking for above all is both to decarbonize the sites and also to offer them an industrial future", underlined the Elysée, noting that they represented 30,000 jobs and saying to seek "to convince their leaders to embark on massive investments", which can reach billions of euros.