HCC: France is designed for a climate that no longer exists

Paris – 09.07.2026: The Haut Conseil pour le climat (HCC) warns in its new annual report that France is organisationally and politically ‘designed for a climate that no longer exists’. The independent institution acknowledges progress, but criticises clear gaps in emissions reduction, adaptation and governance. Particularly problematic, it says, is a weakening of ‘pilotage’, meaning coherent coordination between ministries and administrative levels. National strategies such as the Stratégie nationale bas-carbone (SNBC) and the Programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie (PPE) are not being implemented consistently or are being updated too late. This makes it more difficult to map reliable pathways to achieve the targets through 2030.

Against the backdrop of recurring heatwaves and more intense extreme events, the HCC criticises inadequate adaptation measures. Many infrastructures — from transport routes to public buildings — are not designed for prolonged periods of heat. Municipal prevention structures, civil protection and the health system require robust heat protection plans, clear responsibilities and reliable data on risks and vulnerability. The Council calls for adaptation financing and planning to be systematically embedded so that prevention does not remain subordinate to emergency management.

According to the HCC, carbon budgets remain at the heart of emissions reduction. France must rapidly align sectoral contributions with the remaining emissions budgets in order not to miss interim targets by 2030. The Council identifies particular risks in the transport sector — for example in the decarbonisation of road traffic — and in the building sector, where renovation rates and quality are insufficient. Industrial processes and agriculture also require reliable investment signals and planning certainty to accelerate efficiency, electrification and renewable energy sources.

From a political perspective, the analysis comes at a time of increased attention to heat protection and security of supply. The government highlights resilience programmes, additional funding for energy renovations and the planned update of key planning documents. The HCC responds that targets, deadlines and indicators must become more binding so that priorities between the state, regions and municipalities are clearly allocated and progress remains measurable.

The Council recommends a ‘revitalisation of climate governance’: regular, legally anchored reports on target achievement, consistent funding through multiannual frameworks and closer integration between mitigation and adaptation — including early warning systems, heat-resistant standards and climate-resilient urban planning. Without such measures, there would be a risk of growing damage caused by extreme weather events and failure to meet international commitments. At the same time, the report stresses that forward-looking investments can reduce costs in the long term and increase the resilience of the economy and population.