France and 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
2. Data Sets
   1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020
   2. Environmental Performance
   3. Energy to GDP Efficiency
   4. Convention on Biological Diversity
   5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment
   6. Meat Consumption
   7. Green Future Index
3. Links

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1. France's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #the_environment

Compared to Europe (2023)9
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank9
1	Greece	50.4
2	Italy	51.8
3	Germany	55.8
4=	Norway	56.0
4=	Sweden	56.0
6	Portugal	57.0
7=	Spain	57.6
8	Switzerland	60.8
9=	France	61.8
9=	Denmark	61.8
11	Luxembourg	64.2
12	Netherlands	65.8
13=	Austria	66.6
	Europe Avg	79.9
q=43.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)9
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank9
1	Japan	33.2
2	Philippines	45.0
3	Uruguay	48.0
	...
27	Switzerland	60.8
28=	Tunisia	61.0
28=	Paraguay	61.0
30	France	61.8
31=	Denmark	61.8
32	Mauritius	62.3
33	Indonesia	62.4
34	S. Korea	62.8
	World Avg	85.7
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 better3
Pos.		Total3
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
23	Jamaica	14.1%
24	Italy	13.8%
25	Fiji	12.9%
26	France	12.5%
27	Moldova	11.9%
28	Palestine	11.5%
29	Kyrgyzstan	11.1%
30	Serbia	10.6%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	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 change_10,11. 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 cover_13,11, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging_14,15. 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 deforestation_16,14. 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:

• " Deforestation" by Vexen Crabtree (2024).

2.2. Environmental Performance

#climate_change #the_environment

Environmental Performance Higher is better1
Pos.		20181
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
4	Malta	80.9
5	Sweden	80.5
6	UK	79.9
7	Luxembourg	79.1
8	Austria	79.0
9	Ireland	78.8
10	Finland	78.6
11	Iceland	78.6
12	Spain	78.4
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
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
1	Hong Kong	26.32
2	Sri Lanka	20.00
3	Panama	17.86
	...
48=	Algeria	10.00
48=	Macedonia	10.00
48=	Croatia	10.00
51	France	09.90
52=	Lebanon	09.90
53	Hungary	09.80
54=	Latvia	09.80
55	Poland	09.71
	Europe Avg	09.80
	World Avg	09.29
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=	China	1993 Dec 29
1=	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
1=	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
	...
64	Micronesia	1994 Sep 18
65	Malaysia	1994 Sep 22
66	Benin	1994 Sep 28
67	France	1994 Sep 29
68	Netherlands	1994 Oct 10
69=	Pakistan	1994 Oct 24
69=	Kenya	1994 Oct 24
71	Finland	1994 Oct 25
	Europe Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 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:

• "Humanity is the Cause of the Earth's Current Sixth Mass Extinction Event" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better5
Pos.		2011 %5
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
69	Cameroon	39.0%
70	Uganda	38.6%
71	Sierra Leone	38.6%
72	France	38.4%
73	Mongolia	38.4%
74	Hungary	38.0%
75	Mauritania	38.0%
76	Croatia	37.8%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
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 better7
Pos.		2021 kg7
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
157	Panama	85.0
158	Luxembourg	85.8
159	Antigua & Barbuda	85.8
160	France	86.1
161	Barbados	86.4
162	Canada	86.9
163	New Caledonia	87.5
164	Montenegro	88.4
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
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 better2
Pos.		2023 Score2
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
4=	Sweden	6.3
4=	Denmark	6.3
6	Netherlands	6.2
7	UK	6.1
8	S. Korea	6.0
9	France	6.0
10=	Spain	5.9
10=	Germany	5.9
12	Belgium	5.8
	Europe Avg	5.6
	World Avg	4.8
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.