The French government presented yesterday (27 April) a new package of legislative measures to implement the national sustainable development strategy, agreed by the so-called 'Grenelle de l'environnement'.
The grenelle, a national consultation on environmental issues, was launched in 2007. It involved trade unions, employers' associations, local authorities, farmers and environmental NGOs, and led to a series of new environmental laws (Grenelle I).
Among the proposed laws was a highly controversial proposal for a domestic carbon tax, which is now being postponed until joint action is taken by all EU member states (EurActiv 24/03/10).
Going local
Grenelle II outlines a roadmap and provides "the logistics" for implementing sustainable development at local and regional level, the French environment ministry said in a statement.
It will be implemented through six major initiatives addressing climate change in different sectors, biodiversity protection, sustainable agriculture, health protection, sustainable waste management and developing a new 'eco-governance'.
Specific measures planned range from 'main-streaming' energy-performance of buildings meansurements to improving organic and hospital waste management and creating an eco-label for fish products.
The new eco-governance would involve mandatory public consultation on all legislation that impacts on the environment impact, as well as the creation of regional environmental councils. The private sector would, among other things, be required to indicate the amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from transportation of people or goods.
Regional climate and energy scenarios
French Ecology and Transport Minister Jean-Louis Borloo said renewable energies would get a boost through the establishment of regional climate and energy scenarios, accompanied by specific support for wind energy.
Borloo said the sale of pesticides would be better framed and aerial spraying of plant protection products would be forbidden, subject to derogations.
The package was adopted by the French Senate in October 2009 and will be debated in parliament on 5 May.
