Average new passenger cars emissions in France 2018-2020

In 2020, France's average greenhouse gas emissions generated by petrol and diesel passenger cars decreased. At the end of the given period, gasoline-powered passenger vehicles emitted 109 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, slightly more than their diesel counterparts which released 107 grams of CO2 per kilometer. That year, the French manufacturing and construction industries' carbon dioxide emission levels amounted to approximately 41.6 million metric tons, the third largest emission level in the European Union (EU).

The EU Climate Strategy

2016 was a breakthrough year for the world since the Paris Agreement was signed and became a legally binding treaty. As of September 2022, the agreement was ratified by 194 parties (193 countries and the European Union) which accounted for 98 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. This agreement aims to keep the global temperature rise two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and, preferably, 1.5 °C. In light of the agreement, the European Union, one of the historically biggest emitters, set up a framework for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050—the European Climate Law. Since France is a founding member of the European Union, each climate decision taken by the European Parliament is binding for the French territories. According to a survey conducted in 2021, 71 percent of respondents think big corporations and the French government should take significant steps to tackle climate crises.

Green Developments in the Transportation Sector

Transportation—particularly road transport—is one of the main sectors for annual GHG emissions in the European Union. In particular, the French transportation sector released 103 metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO2) into the atmosphere in 2020, above other European neighbors such as the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain. Emission reductions from the transportation sector are essential to achieve the EU’s 2050 net-zero target. The EU’s current strategy to achieve this goal involves improved vehicle efficiency, particularly a switch to electric powertrains. France still has efforts to make in its fleet electrification—just under ten percent of passenger car sales were battery-electric vehicles in 2021—but has been making progress. In 2021, French motorists purchased over 303,000 plug-in electric vehicles. According to a Statista Market Outlook forecast, electric vehicle sales should grow to 610,700 units by 2027.