Major Rollback of Environmental Protections in France
• A draft law examined in January 2026 aimed to loosen several major environmental protection mechanisms, including zero net land artificialisation, ecological compensation and low-emission zones.
• The bill introduced exemptions and the removal of standards that weakened the fight against biodiversity loss and air pollution, raising concerns among organisations such as Fondation Nature Homme about impacts on public health and the environment.
• The likely adoption of the bill by Parliament marked a political turning point, undermining France’s ecological trajectory amid economic pressures and European regulatory constraints.
Source: Reporterre – “Simplification is a magic word to destroy environmental protections”
CSRD Drives a Lasting Transformation of Corporate Sustainability in Europe
• The European CSRD directive imposed mandatory non-financial reporting on certain European companies, profoundly reshaping CSR practices by embedding sustainability into corporate strategy.
• In 2025, despite resistance and intense debates framing the regulation as a “burden”, CSRD generated renewed momentum around CSR within organisations.
• This transformation materialised through structuring tools such as mandatory reporting and double materiality analysis, establishing long-term change across the European economic landscape.
Source: Novethic – “One year on, how CSRD has already transformed CSR in Europe”
The ECB Steps Up Integration of Climate and Nature Risks
• The European Central Bank finalised its 2024–2025 Climate and Nature Plan by integrating climate- and nature-related risks into its monetary policy framework, including the introduction of a “climate factor” in collateral systems and targeted reductions in emissions from corporate bonds held.
• These measures aimed to support the management of economic and financial impacts linked to climate and nature degradation, while noting progress in banks’ risk assessment capabilities.
• The institution also set new priorities, including analysis of the ecological transition, enhanced monitoring of physical risks and deeper assessment of ecosystem degradation risks, in pursuit of economic stability and strengthened governance.
Source: ESG Today – “ECB to Intensify Monitoring of Physical Climate Risk Impact, Transition Plans for Banks”
The Attention Economy Already Costs France 0.6 GDP Points
• In September 2025, France’s Treasury revealed that the attention economy, fuelled by social media use, caused an annual loss of 0.6 GDP points, driven by deteriorating mental health and productivity losses linked to excessive screen exposure.
• The phenomenon affected economic performance through increased absenteeism, early retirement and declining cognitive capacities among young people, jeopardising future productivity.
• To address these impacts, the European Union and France adopted or considered legislative measures targeting addictive features and the protection of minors, aiming to limit social and economic consequences.
Source: Novethic – “TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat… the attention economy already costs France 0.6 GDP points per year”
Climate Media Coverage Faces Growing Skepticism in France
• After summer 2022, several major French media outlets committed to strengthening climate coverage, while the Descartes Foundation measured a rise in the share of French citizens who feel sufficiently informed, increasing from 27.5% to 40.8%.
• Despite this progress, the proportion of people convinced of the human origin of global warming declined to 48.8% in 2025, with high expectations remaining around scientific rigour and pedagogical quality in media treatment.
• These findings highlight the need for a qualitative transformation of climate information, particularly to promote concrete solutions and strengthen collective understanding.
Source: Vert le Média – “French citizens want more pedagogical and solution-oriented climate coverage”
Overseas Territories: Reviving Fossil Fuels as a Major Climate Mistake
• Several environmental organisations, including Greenpeace France and Réseau Action Climat, sent an open letter to the Prime Minister and senators opposing a bill seeking to reauthorise hydrocarbon exploration and extraction in overseas territories, rolling back gains from the 2017 Hulot law.
• They warned that such a move would contradict France’s climate commitments, increase vulnerability in biodiversity-rich territories and weaken their socio-economic development.
• Signatories urged the government and Senate to prioritise renewable-based energy transition and the protection of overseas territories.
Source: Vert le Média – “Restarting hydrocarbons in overseas territories: a climate and social mistake, environmental groups warn”
Energy Transition in Europe: Solar Boom Meets Political Gridlock
• In 2025, renewable energies supplied 48% of Europe’s electricity, while coal fell to a historic low of 9.2% and gas maintained a significant share of the energy mix.
• In France, solar growth continued, but suspended tenders and delays in energy planning slowed the development of new projects.
• This dynamic reflects a major shift toward decarbonisation, despite regulatory barriers and the continued presence of fossil fuels.
Source: Vert le Média – “Solar boom, coal collapse, gas persistence: key takeaways from Europe’s energy transition in 2025”
CAC 40 2026 Annual General Meetings: Climate and AI at the Core of Tensions
• The 2026 annual general meetings of CAC 40 companies drew shareholder attention to executive succession, climate issues and the rise of artificial intelligence.
• These meetings were marked by investor activism on ESG topics and the reintegration of ESG criteria into executive compensation across the SBF 120.
• This context reflects a broader regulatory transformation and debates around governance and emerging technologies within major French corporations.
Source: Novethic – “Successions, AI, climate… key issues at CAC 40 AGMs in 2026”
North Sea: Europe Races Toward Energy Independence
• The third North Sea Summit, held on January 26 in Hamburg, brought together states determined to make the region a cornerstone of European energy independence, targeting 300 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050.
• The meeting took on heightened geopolitical significance amid international tensions and threats to energy infrastructure security.
• The EU is expected to cross a historic milestone in 2026 by producing more electricity from wind and solar sources than from fossil fuels for the first time.
Source: Le Monde – “In Europe, this colossal project aims to make the North Sea ‘the world’s largest green energy reservoir’”
Delayed Energy Planning Paralyzes Renewables in France
• In France, delays in publishing the third Multiannual Energy Programme (PPE) blocked projects across wind and solar sectors, leading to activity suspensions and uncertainty for industry professionals.
• The lack of an official roadmap slowed investment decisions and threatened employment throughout the renewable energy value chain.
• This situation jeopardises France’s energy transition trajectory and undermines the goal of ambitious regulatory transformation.
Source: Novethic – “Moratoriums, layoffs, worst-case scenarios: the renewable energy sector plunges into crisis”
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