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HM Governor's Office

in Anguilla

London 22:33, 16 May 2012
   

France

Eiffel Tower, France (iStockphotos)

France has a target of 23% renewable energy in consumption by 2020, with solar power, tax credits and investment in R&D being used to help achieve this objective. However nuclear power will continue to play an important role in France’s energy production; the government has committed to building two next-generation EPR reactors.

 

In the longer term, France has the goal of achieving a 75% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, and key to achieving this will the Grenelle environment programme which covers areas from biodiversity and agriculture to waste management and renewable energy.

Key facts
  • Population: 64,057,792
  • Surface area (square kms): 547,030
  • Population density in 2007 (per square km): 110
  • GDP: $2.097 trillion
  • CO2 emission estimates per capita (metric tons): 6.2
Energy production
  • Electricity (kW-hr; 2004): 572,241,000,000
  • Hard coal (metric tons; 2004): 872,00010
  • Lignite (metric tons; 2004): none  
  • Crude petroleum (barrels; 2005): 7,800,000  
  • Petroleum products (metric tons; 2004): 74,910,00011  
  • Natural gas (cu m; 2004): 1,374,000,000
Energy consumption
  • Electricity (kW-hr; 2004): 510,201,000,000
  • Hard coal (metric tons; 2004): 20,780,000
  • Lignite (metric tons; 2004): 40,000
  • Crude petroleum (barrels; 2004): 631,000,00011
  • Petroleum products (metric tons; 2004): 74,274,00011
  • Natural gas (cu m; 2004): 49,845,000,000

A view from the ground in France

Thinking about the French countryside calls up images of magnificent natural scenery, charming medieval villages and rich soil flowing with cheese and wine.

Packaging goes lightweight to avoid heavy costs

Case study: Danone, Food and Drink sector, France

New products brighten concrete's grey image

Concrete (Getty Images)

New, much stronger forms of concrete, such as Lafarge's Ductal product, has significant environmental value as it can be used much more thinly, it requires much less raw materials, and it is energy-efficient

Eurostar's low carbon story

Case study: Eurostar, Transport sector

Climate events in France

Climate events in France

2012 : après Kyoto

Le Royaume-Uni appelle à un accord ambitieux lors des pourparlers du sommet de l’ONU, à Copenhague, en décembre 2009.

Screening of 'The Age of Stupid' at the Ambassador's Residence in Paris

On 1st October, the climate change film 'The Age of Stupid' was screened in the Ambassador's Residence in Paris.

Article de Gordon Brown, Premier Ministre, Davos, 30 janvier 2009

Livre blanc - DECC

Sondage