According to preliminary estimates released by the CITEPA, the organisation mandated to draw up the French greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory, France’s GHG emissions fell by 4.8% in 2023 to reach 384.5 MtCO2eq, in compliance with France's carbon budget set by the National low-carbon strategy (422 MtCO2eq over 2019-2023). This decline in emissions is more important than in 2022, when a 2.7% decrease was observed, and the level reached in 2023 is lower than in 2020 (392 MtCO2eq) when the Covid pandemic contributed to a sharp reduction in emissions (-9.6%).
GHG emissions from the energy sector fell by 14% in 2023 (-6.3 MtCO2eq), notably due to an increase in nuclear, hydropower, wind and solar power generation during the year. Emissions from the residential-tertiary sector fell by 6% (-3.9 MtCO2eq), notably due to sufficiency policies, high energy prices, steady installations of heat pumps and a warmer weather, reaching a record low since 1990. GHG emissions from industry dropped by 8% due to a decline in industrial production, especially in CO2-intensive branches such as cement (-7%), chemicals (-9%), and iron and steel (-6%), with gas consumption in industry contracting by 19% during the year. Emissions from road transport dipped by 3% in 2023 due to high fuel prices, fleet changes (less diesel vehicle sales and higher electric vehicle sales) and behavioural changes; emissions from air transport continued to rise (+21% for domestic flights and +27% for international flights).