French president calls for the establishment of an "ecological defense council”

Emmanuel Macron said this Thursday the establishment of an "ecological defense council", which will bring together the ministers dedicated to make the "strategic choices" imposed by "

the climate emergency. 

French President, Emmanuel Macron.

"I want us to put in place an ecological defense council that will bring together the Prime Minister and the key ministers responsible for this transition (…) that I will preside on a regular basis to both take the strategic choices and put at the heart of all our this climate emergency, "he told the press at the Elysée.

Read the Archynetys story - “French president calls for the establishment of an "ecological defense council”.”

Emmanuel Macron calls on Malcolm Turnbull to show 'power of conviction' in fighting climate change

French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a challenge to Australia to lift its game when it comes to tackling climate change.

Macron (right) and Turnbull - France has deep interests in the Pacific.

Mr Macron, who arrived in Sydney last night, is only the second sitting French President to make an official trip to Australia.

The first stop on his whistle-stop tour was a dinner at the Sydney Opera House joined by politicians, business leaders and French expats.

During his speech, the President called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to show the "power of conviction" and display courage in confronting climate change, despite the ideological hurdles he may face in both the Parliament and his party room.

Read the ABC News story - “Emmanuel Macron calls on Malcolm Turnbull to show 'power of conviction' in fighting climate change.”

Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron Are Taking on Climate Change Together

It was last June that the US, the world’s second-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, announced it was leaving the Paris Climate Accord.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, says goodbye
 to French President Emmanuel Macron after a meeting
 at the Elysee Palace in Paris, April 16, 2018.

Now, the leaders of Canada and France are joining forces to combat climate change together.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris on Monday to confirm a partnership in the fight against climate change.

The countries agreed to work more closely on tackling targets laid out in the Paris Agreement, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Read the story by Jackie Marchildon from Global Citizen - “Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron Are Taking on Climate Change Together.”

France’s Macron to pitch global environmental rights charter to UN

French president Emmanuel Macron is set to call for a global pact affirming universal principles for environmental protection at the UN general assembly next week.

France's Emmanuel Macron is making environmental
protection a key theme of his presidency 

As the US under Donald Trump reneges on its climate commitments, Macron will speak at the UN on 19 September, pitching to unite the rest of the world behind a binding green charter.

Yann Aguila, leader of the 30-strong team who produced a draft pact in June, said France was seeking UN support to set up a working group. That would eventually result in a document to be agreed by the UN general assembly or another international body, and ratified by member states.

Read the Climate Home story - “France’s Macron to pitch global environmental rights charter to UN.”

France to ban all diesel and petrol cars in just over 20 years

France‘s new president Emmanuel Macron wants to make his country carbon neutral by 2050. To work towards that goal, environment minister Nicolas Hulot just unveiled plans to totally ban all vehicles that run on diesel and petrol by the year 2040.

All vehicles using diesel and petrol will be
 gone from French roads bay 2040.

Diesel and petrol vehicles could exit French roads in around 23 years. Hulot said the country will ban the polluting vehicles then, but does have a few plans to make the transition a little easier. He said the goal would put a burden on car manufacturers in France but the government has a few projects which “can fulfill that promise.” Households in France with lower incomes will be given a premium so they’ll be able to bid adieu to vehicles running on fossil fuels for cleaner options.

That’s not the only goal Hulot unveiled. He also said France would stop burning coal for power in around five years, in 2022. As much as four billion Euros, around $4.5 billion, could be invested in energy efficiency. These targets are part of a five-year plan to boost clean energy and meet France’s goals under the Paris Agreement.

Read Lacy Cooke’s story on Inhabitat - “France to ban all diesel and petrol cars in just over 20 years.”