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Pathways 2020 - 2050 Towards a low-carbon economy in France

Pathways 2020 - 2050 Towards a low-carbon economy in France

07/11/11

Conclusions of the Committee 2020-2050 Pathways towards a low-carbib economy

The international community has set a target to Cancun to limit the rise in average temperature below 2 ° C compared to preindustrial times.
According to the assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on developments in the (IPCC), this goal requires a halving of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and a reduction of 80% for developed countries.

France is one of the countries that emit less greenhouse gas emissions and meets already the Kyoto Protocol. With the Grenelle Environment Forum, it has set ambitious targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gas emissions: reduce by 2020 over 23% of our emissions compared to 1990 levels.

To establish a longer term strategy, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transportation and Housing launched on June 27 a task force chaired by Christian de PERTHUIS, professor of economics at the University Paris-Dauphine, and supported by the Centre d'analyse stratégique (CAS) . This committee brought together associations to protect the environment, businesses, labor organizations, climate experts and ministries.

In a context of economic and financial crisis, the committee followed a guiding principle: seek ways of making climate policy rhyme high ambition in terms of reducing emissions of greenhouse gas emissions and positive impacts on growth and employment. They have joined European comparative analysis, prospective analysis broken down by sector and assessing the impacts of different scenarios for emission reductions.

The report analyzes the requirements to carbonize the economy in 2050 under the best economic and social conditions. It makes several proposals to this effect, in particular:

  • strengthen the industrial policy measures to promote the transition towards a low carbon economy;
  • act both on the demand by encouraging energy efficiency, and supply by encouraging the production processes low-carbon;
  • implement economic and regulatory incentives to companies providing visibility over the medium term. The report recommends in particular the establishment of a carbon tax, preferably European, if not French, and setting rules for 2030;
  • use the auction proceeds of CO2 quotas set in 2013 and future climate-energy contributions to economic growth, technological innovation, social equity and international solidarity;
  • anticipate changes in the job market and prepare for career transitions.

This work will be reviewed in the coming weeks. They will enable France to contribute to the European debate on the milestones that must lead us to a low-carbon economy by 2050 and serve as a reference to the fight against climate change as a lever for economic development and social progress.

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