The Human Truth Foundation

France and the Environment

https://www.humantruth.info/france_environment.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

#climate_change #france #france_and_the_environment #france_environment #french_polynesia #new_zealand #nuclear_weapons #the_environment

France comes 30th in the world when it comes to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 7 data sets. France does the second-best when it comes to its environmental performance1. It comes in the best 20 in its score on the Green Future Index2. It does better than average in terms of its forested percent change 2000-20203, energy to GDP efficiency4, how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity and in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population5. Scrutiny by the European Parliament finds that France has effectively reduced its emissions by 31.2% between 2005 and 20236. But, things still need to improve in France. France does worse than average for reducing annual meat consumption per person7. France conducted nuclear weapons testing in French Polynesia (southern Pacific) for thirty years, at the Mururoa Atoll. It was so committed to this that its service blew up Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior ship whilst it was harboured in New Zealand in 1985, killing one crew member8, because it was preparing to protest Mururoa. Despite no tests being conducted for thirty years, the area is still so radioactive that the French military guard it.


1. France's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #the_environment

Compared to Europe (2023)9
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank9
1Greece50.4
2Italy51.8
3Germany55.8
4=Norway56.0
4=Sweden56.0
6Portugal57.0
7=Spain57.6
8Switzerland60.8
9=France61.8
9=Denmark61.8
11Luxembourg64.2
12Netherlands65.8
13=Austria66.6
Europe Avg79.9
q=43.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)9
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank9
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
27Switzerland60.8
28=Tunisia61.0
28=Paraguay61.0
30France61.8
31=Denmark61.8
32Mauritius62.3
33Indonesia62.4
34S. Korea62.8
World Avg85.7
q=188.

2. Data Sets

2.1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020

#biodiversity #deforestation #environmentalism #forests #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
3
Pos.Total3
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
23Jamaica14.1%
24Italy13.8%
25Fiji12.9%
26France12.5%
27Moldova11.9%
28Palestine11.5%
29Kyrgyzstan11.1%
30Serbia10.6%
Europe Avg8.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
France is positioned 26th in the world in terms of its forested percent change 2000-2020.

Forests are carbon sinks, mitigating against climate change10,11. Unfortunately, we are destroying over 70,000 km2 of forest each year12. In the last few thousand years, we've removed 30-40% of the Earth's forest cover13,11, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging14,15. The produce from both is shipped from poorer countries to richer ones. Half-hearted government efforts and company obfuscation of supply chains makes it almost impossible for consumers to tell which foods and products are from sustainable sources, and which ones are encouraging irresponsible deforestation, meaning that there is little incentive for companies to relent.

The effects are catastrophic. 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation16,14. It brings soil erosion from wind and rain which, over time, can almost-permanently stop any hope of growing food17, and spreads desertification. Entire ecosystems are collapsing as a result, including ones that we depend upon18. The water cycle is driven by forests, and their loss reduces ordinary rainfall, increases flooding, removes an abundant source of water filtration, and contributes to a rise in water levels.19.

Some regions of the world are increasing their forest cover11; the best from 2000-2020 are Scandinavia (13.8% ), The Balkans (11.0% ) and Baltic States (7.6% )3. There is an overall trend that developed countries gathered their riches by using up their natural resources, and now, they pay poorer countries to use up theirs instead, whilst they can afford to slowly rebuild their natural environments. But it's not wholly that simple - some rich regions are still burning through what they've got. The regions clearing their forests fastest are Central America (-12.8% ), Africa (-9.1% ) and North America (-2.9% )3.

For more, see:

2.2. Environmental Performance

#climate_change #the_environment

Environmental Performance
Higher is better
1
Pos.20181
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
6UK79.9
7Luxembourg79.1
8Austria79.0
9Ireland78.8
10Finland78.6
11Iceland78.6
12Spain78.4
Europe Avg69.6
World Avg56.4
q=180.
In terms of its environmental performance, France comes 2nd-best in the world; only Switzerland does better.

2.3. Energy to GDP Efficiency

#the_environment

Energy to GDP Efficiency
Higher is better4
Pos.20144
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
...
48=Algeria10.00
48=Macedonia10.00
48=Croatia10.00
51France09.90
52=Lebanon09.90
53Hungary09.80
54=Latvia09.80
55Poland09.71
Europe Avg09.80
World Avg09.29
q=119.
With regard to energy to GDP efficiency, France ranks 51st in the world.

2.4. Convention on Biological Diversity

#biodiversity #the_environment #USA

Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
64Micronesia1994 Sep 18
65Malaysia1994 Sep 22
66Benin1994 Sep 28
67France1994 Sep 29
68Netherlands1994 Oct 10
69=Pakistan1994 Oct 24
69=Kenya1994 Oct 24
71Finland1994 Oct 25
Europe Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
France ranks 66th in the world regarding how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was originally sparked from United Nations activity in the 1980s as a result of rising scientific alarm over the impact of human activity on natural habitats, including a rising awareness of extinctions and shifts in ecosystems that occasionally cause widespread disruption that is difficult (or impossible) to reverse.

After a long period of international consultation involving hundreds of scientists and environmental ministers, the Convention was finalized and launched at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, and received 168 signatures over the subsequent year.

Part of the first wave of signees were a large number of small island nations, who are uniquely susceptible to over-exploitation by rich companies and countries, but simultaneously, are (as a group) the least responsible for driving global extinctions.

Data on when each country ratified the CBD forms part of the formula of the Social and Moral Development Index, with countries losing points for reticence (taking into account the foundation dates of newly independent countries). The USA stands alone in not ratifying it, but is the world's greatest driver for activities that cause biodiversity loss.

For more, see:

2.5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment

Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better5
Pos.2011
%5
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
69Cameroon39.0%
70Uganda38.6%
71Sierra Leone38.6%
72France38.4%
73Mongolia38.4%
74Hungary38.0%
75Mauritania38.0%
76Croatia37.8%
Europe Avg33.6%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
In terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, France comes 72nd in the world.

2.6. Meat Consumption

#animal_rights #animal_welfare #diet #food #health #meat #veganism #vegetarianism

Meat Consumption
Lower is better
7
Pos.2021
kg7
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
157Panama85.0
158Luxembourg85.8
159Antigua & Barbuda85.8
160France86.1
161Barbados86.4
162Canada86.9
163New Caledonia87.5
164Montenegro88.4
Europe Avg71.1
World Avg52.5
q=185.
In terms of reducing annual meat consumption per person, France is positioned 160th in the world. In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in France was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.7

Vegetarian diets have health advantages over carnivorous diets. Plant-based diets use much less water than carnivorous ones, to the extent that agricultural and water management scientists are urging governments to encourage people to switch20. Some vegetarians are morally opposed to the maltreatment of animals: some avoid meat products as an offensive against the meat industry. But there are problems with vegetarians, too. Some merely want to look good socially; some have accepted pro-vegetarian ideas that are plain wrong and misguided, and, some faddish vegetarian diets are harmful and dangerous. The countries that ate the least meat throughout the 2010s were Burundi, Congo, DR and Bangladesh7.

2.7. Green Future Index

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Green Future Index
Higher is better
2
Pos.2023
Score2
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
4=Sweden6.3
4=Denmark6.3
6Netherlands6.2
7UK6.1
8S. Korea6.0
9France6.0
10=Spain5.9
10=Germany5.9
12Belgium5.8
Europe Avg5.6
World Avg4.8
q=76.
In terms of its score on the Green Future Index, France comes 9th-best in the world. The 2023 edition noted that France's nuclear contribution to its energy sector was the highest in the world, helping it avoid harmful carbon emissions21

The Green Futures Index (GFI) has been running since 2021, and looks at 23 data sets for over 70 countries, with a focus on effectiveness, policy and planning 'for a low carbon future. It is complementary to existing goals and frameworks for sustainable development'. Datasets include qualitative appraisals and quantitative measurements on carbon emissions across multiple sectors, renewable and nuclear energy, recycling capabilities, green technologies used in building and construction, transport, scientific and industrial green innovations and patent quantities, climate action and climate policies. Each country is then ranked by their final score.21.