France is lagging behind targeted cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, adding to signs that Europe’s largest economies will struggle to reach their 2030 climate goals.
Emissions in France fell 1.6 percent last year, according to a preliminary report by Citepa, which compiles such data for the government. That’s significantly less than the 4.6 percent annual drop the government has said is needed in order to hit a 2030 target of halving emissions from 1990 levels.
The small decline seen in 2025 coincided with sluggish economic growth, while a rebound in refining activities meant that energy-industry emissions largely stalled, according to Citepa. Emissions fell 1.8 percent in France’s agriculture sector, and at an even slower pace in transport and buildings, it said.
The Citepa report follows an update from Germany which showed Europe’s largest economy risks missing its 2030 emissions targets, with declines last year mostly due to a slowdown in growth in the country’s industrial sector.
Emissions in France — excluding carbon sinks such as forests — dropped to 363.4 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent last year from 369.2 million tons a year earlier, with the manufacturing sector behind the biggest declines, the report showed.
In an effort to meet its 2030 emissions goal, France is trying to accelerate efforts to replace fossil fuels with nuclear power and renewable energies.