Environmental planning is necessary to ‘protect purchasing power’, says Elizabeth Bourne

Elizabeth Bourne presented an envelope on the ecological transition to the National Renaissance Council on Tuesday. “Protecting purchasing power (…) requires environmental planning,” the Prime Minister assured, while energy prices are soaring. “Some fear that the ecological transition will be synonymous with a decline in purchasing power. On the contrary, it is the lack of transition that will lead to this, because we will be forever exposed to shocks to prices and therefore purchasing power,” she said.

“So protecting purchasing power includes phasing out fossil fuels, home renovations and relocation. This involves controlling energy costs (…) In a word, this is environmental planning,” the head of government added.

She detailed the distribution of an additional 10 billion euros that will be allocated to the green transition, seven of which will be spent in 2024. “Aid has priority where private funding is not possible,” Matignon told Les Échos.

Communities want ‘adapted remedies’

The tension between the environment and purchasing power was raised at a meeting on the issue with political parties on Monday in Matignon. Several party leaders have called for “very tight regulation” of electricity prices, Matignon said.

“The humblest households (…) are those that pollute the least, but suffer the most from pollution” and that are “least prepared for this transition”, emphasized at the end of CNR Noam Leandri, President of the Alerte Collective, which brings together 34 associations , fighting poverty. He calls for “much more concrete” measures in their favor.

Community representatives asked for “adapted means” for this transition, said Ivan Lyubraneskin from the Association of Rural Mayors, while from U2P (Union of Local Businesses) Michel Picon called for “time” to adapt.

Government promises ‘very specific’ plan

In July, the government delayed the presentation of this roadmap, due in part to unrest and staffing issues. He promises a “very specific” and “very operational” plan to “attend the European meeting” to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% in 2030 compared to 1990 and to “project to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050.”

The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, is due to speak on this topic on Monday, before presenting the draft budget for 2024 to the Council of Ministers on September 27.