According to Franceinfo, the Rassemblement National (RN) intends to present a “climate plan” totaling 40 billion euros early next week. This would mark the first time the party presents a comprehensively quantified investment program for dealing with the consequences of climate change.
Based on currently known information, the plan includes investments amounting to 40 billion euros. The focus is not on reducing greenhouse gas emissions but rather on adapting France to the impacts of global warming. With this, the RN pursues an approach that places greater emphasis on protecting the population from the effects of climate change than on traditional climate protection measures.
A key component of the program is expected to be the enhanced outfitting of residential buildings, public institutions, and infrastructure with air conditioning systems. In addition, financial support programs for private individuals as well as municipalities are planned to facilitate the corresponding investments.
The announcement marks another development in the Rassemblement National’s climate policy. While the party has often been accused in the past of downplaying the significance of climate change, it now fundamentally acknowledges the scientific findings. At the same time, however, it rejects essential elements of the existing French and European climate policies. Instead of consistent decarbonization, the RN focuses on measures aimed at protecting the population immediately from the consequences of increasing heat waves and other climate-related extreme events.
So far, there is neither a detailed breakdown of the planned expenditures nor information on the timeline or financing of the program. According to the party, these will be presented at the official unveiling early next week. Only then will it be possible to assess which concrete measures are planned and how the announced investment framework is composed.
Andreas M. Brucker