‘Rebirth of France’s Nuclear Industry’ Key for Net Zero by 2050, Says Prez

French President Emmanuel Macron has presented his country’s goal of achieving CO2-free energy by 2050, starting with using more nuclear and renewable energy.

Speaking in Belfort, north-eastern France, Macron outlined measures including the construction of solar parks, underwater wind farms, and six European pressurized nuclear reactors (EPR2s), reports Xinhua news agency. An additional eight EPR2 nuclear reactors should be operational by 2035, he said.

To achieve this, the French government will provide financial support for construction projects, as well as bringing together the public and local institutions to work on sustainable development goals.

France must take back control of its energy destiny, Macron said, adding that it must stop depending on foreign fossil energy imports, and push France’s energy industries forward. “The world of tomorrow will be more electric,” he said.

As per data released last month by the EU statistics office, Eurostat, the European Union tapped renewables for 22% of its energy consumption in 2020, beating its 20% target. While Sweden raced ahead of other EU nations, with over 60% of its energy consumption derived from renewable sources, France, however, was the only European country that fell short of its national goal for renewables of 23%, missing it by 3.9 percentage points.

The state was ordered by a French court late last year to prevent a further rise of carbon emissions by end-December 2022 at latest, ruling it must respect its commitments to reduce its greenhouse gases.

In order to help bring down emissions, the French government already provides grants of up to 5,000 euros ($5,750) to assist citizens in buying electric cars.

“France must be capable of producing more than 60 per cent of its own electrical energy to meet the goals set for 2050,” he added.

Despite being “behind” on matters of renewable energy, he said, France is capable of going carbon-free by 2050.

At the One Ocean Summit in the city of Brest on February 9-11, Macron will hold talks with Heads of State and Government, leaders of multilateral institutions, business leaders and civil society policymakers to discuss sustainable development commitments.