Macron announces green diplomacy efforts

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivers a speech during the International solar alliance launch ceremony in Paris, France, 30 November 2015. The ISA is one of the recipients of Macron's green diplomacy committments. [Guillaume Horcajuelo/EPA]

Increasing development aid, rebooting European climate policy, partnering with green technologies in emerging economies: the French president has made his diplomatic priorities clear. EURACTIV’s partner Le Journal de l’Environnement reports.

It is a routine protocol. Every September, the president calls all French diplomats to Paris to dictate political, economic and cultural priorities for the coming year.

This Tuesday (29 August) Emmanuel Macron has complied with tradition. In front of a distinguished audience, he listed France’s new ambitions “in the current state of affairs”: security, independence, and influence.

This motto, he stressed, does not mean to “make France a small and reluctant country, jealously guarding its security”.

France raises its environmental game with ambitious new climate package

With plans to make France carbon neutral and phase out fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2040, Paris is showing new levels of ambition when it comes to the environment. EURACTIV France reports.

Development aid on the rise

Dusting off an old and unkept promise, Emmanuel Macron announced he will “devote 0,55% of our GDP to development aid[…] from now until 2022”. This is one-third more than in 2015.

The French development agency (AFD) will have to strengthen its cooperation on the ground with all other actors involved in French development: NGOs, companies, and local communities. All this universe will probably be able to access public grants.

Education will be the focus of bilateral aid, due to its key societal mission: “We must give an alternative to fundamentalism and obscurantism, the role of women, the fight against climate change and access to fossil-free energy, the eradication of pandemics…”.

Scientific partnerships

Scientific partnerships are on the agenda. Renewed help for the India-led International Solar Alliance (a brief for French diplomat Ségolène Royal, charged with international negotiation on the Antarctic and Arctic poles) is soon to be announced, during Macron’s state visit to India planned for the end of the year.

Similar actions could be implemented vis-à-vis China. “Our shared fight [against climate change and pollution], our innovation capital, and our scientific and economic links can really change the course of things.”

Climate leadership for Europe

In Europe, the president announces coming proposals to strengthen the economic and monetary union, deepen cooperation in defense and migration policies. But also to achieve “a real climate and energy leadership for Europe”.

Climate: a new summit in Paris

A new climate summit organized in partnership with the World Bank has been confirmed for 21 December. It will be the opportunity for “taking stock of progress [on the Paris Agreement] and to make the necessary funds available”.

On the environment, Emmanuel Macron announced new legislation, as well as new efforts on biodiversity and topics covered by the Climate Plan presented by Nicholas Hulot at the beginning of summer.

Looming CETA application undermines Macron’s campaign promise

The provisional entry into force of the EU’s free trade agreement with Canada on 21 September leaves little time for the evaluation committee established by France’s new president to deliver its verdict on the deal. EURACTIV France reports.

Read more with Euractiv

Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded

Supporter


Life Terra

Funded by the LIFE Programme of the EU

The content of this publication represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The Agency does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.



Subscribe to our newsletters

Subscribe