With COP29 now underway in Baku, StateUp CEO Tanya Filer and Bank of France Senior Economist Cristina Peñasco argue in French newspaper Le Monde for the pressing need for France to build a strong coalition to address its dual fiscal and ecological challenges, unlocking inclusive green growth with benefits to be felt far beyond Paris.
Amidst parliamentary turbulence, France's Prime Minister Michel Barnier underscored the importance of national unity to tackle the country’s budgetary and environmental debts. The article argues that a bold green growth agenda could not only advance the climate transition that a majority of French citizens support but also answer public concerns about the state of the economy. France has indeed significant advantages in this area— a robust green industrial and technological ecosystem, a relatively low-carbon energy profile, and access to the EU market, which position it as a potential leader of the green economy. However, achieving this requires a balanced approach that avoids overly centralized policies disconnected from local realities and regional needs, which have in the past contributed to public protest and backlash. Building public trust and fostering collaboration across government, local authorities, and communities will be essential to turn this vision into action.
France’s innovative green tech companies, like Verkor and Driveco, are already driving forward-looking infrastructure projects, and their efforts demonstrate the potential for green growth to create economic opportunities across the nation, not just in Paris. Strengthening public understanding around climate policies will also be crucial to counteract disinformation and sustain momentum. With these steps, France can foster a resilient, inclusive, and democratically rooted green transition—one that could serve as an inspirational model for the wider European community.
The full article is available in French on Le Monde's website
