Presented to the National Assembly for a vote on 20 July, the Climate and Resilience Act of the Macron government is born of the report by the Citizens' Climate Convention. Even if, in the end, few proposals were retained for adoption.
According to Follow-up to the Citizens' Climate Convention, 22% of the measures adopted in the text are reproduced in full, 37% are included but truncated. 22% will be applied in a reduced scope and 17% will see the deadline for their application extended..
This does not prevent Minister for Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili to talk about a real step forward for France. " This law will bring ecology into people's lives" she explained to France Info on 20 July. The law will make it possible to reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from the time of its adoption. It should also make it possible to achieve the net reduction target of at least 55 % "The European Union has set a target of 2030..
French law thus ratifies the reducing the role of air travel in domestic journeys. The text sounds the death knell for certain domestic airlines. Air France has already stopped operating services between Paris-Orly and Nantes, Lyon or Bordeaux. "This law effectively makes it possible to prevent routes when you can take the train in less than two and a half hours. For example, we refused to set up an air service between Paris and Strasbourg", said the Minister.
Favouring the railways
The only exceptions to the rule are flights where a certain percentage of passengers are transferring. The text of the law will also prohibit Air France's competitors from taking over these routes. The agreement had, however, provided for the exclusion of all air routes where trains provide a link in less than four hours. But according to Barbara Pompili, reducing the limit to two and a half hours is more pragmatic. "I want the law to be able to be applied", the minister stresses.
"What we want is for people to ask themselves the question: when I want to travel, should I take the plane or the train? The balance seems to favour the latter. The law finally rejects the reduction in VAT on train tickets advocated by the Citizens' Convention.
Barbara Pompili explains her refusal: "We did not opt for reduced VAT because the aim was to bring down the price of train tickets. But we found that reduced VAT did not necessarily translate into lower prices. Like in the catering sector, for example," she explains. "In fact, With the SNCF, we worked on lowering fares. Prices have indeed fallen, and the objective has been achieved." added the Minister.
New taxes on airline fuels in the offing in Europe
D'other measures could be taken in the future. But they will be in consultation with the EU. "We're not going to take Franco-French measures when they're really a matter for Europe," adds Barbara Pompili. This should particularly concern a tax on air travel.
A recasting of the European ETD Taxation Directive is currently under discussion to meet the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. It provides forintroduction of a Europe-wide minimum tax rate of €10.75/gigajoule on fossil fuels. Including paraffin for aircraft.
This taxation will gradually increase from 2023 to 2033while greener alternatives such as sustainable aviation fuel will benefit from a zero minimum tax rate. Fuels will be taxed according to their energy content, with diesel subject to the same minimum rate as jet fuel.
For passengers, this could mean doubling the price of a ticket plane - particularly on low-cost flights. The Union also wants to reduce free carbon quotas (before compensation) to the airlines. With their sights set on total elimination by 2027. A battle is therefore about to begin with the airline lobbies. A battle that France will hardly be able to avoid...
