- Title: France plans to end oil and gas production by 2040
- Date: 6th September 2017
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 6, 2017) (AGENCY POOL) (SOUNDBITE) (French) ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION MINISTER, NICOLAS HULOT, SAYING: "I think it's a strong gesture, and more than just a symbolic one. And obviously in our minds is the fact that once we've done it unilaterally, we're the first big country to do it, in times to come, and I'm thinking particularly of December 12 which will be a special moment (when France hosts a climate summit), France can legitimately try to convince our partners to do the same thing."
- Embargoed: 20th September 2017 16:39
- Keywords: hydrocarbons oil gas production France carbon neutral Nicolas Hulot
- Location: PARIS AND GRANDPUITS-BAILLY-CARROIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS AND GRANDPUITS-BAILLY-CARROIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Environment,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0046XGL5QF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: France plans to pass legislation this year to phase out all oil and gas exploration and production on its mainland and overseas territories by 2040, becoming the first country to do so, according to a draft bill presented on Wednesday (September 6).
President Emmanuel Macron wants to make France carbon neutral by 2050 and plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions by leaving fossil fuels, blamed for contributing to global warming, in the ground.
Under the draft presented to cabinet by Ecological Transition Minister Nicolas Hulot, France will no longer issue exploration permits. The extension of current concessions will be gradually limited until they are phased out by 2040 - when France plans to end the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles.
The decision is, however, largely symbolic because France produces only about six million barrels of hydrocarbons a year, representing about one percent of its consumption.
France will continue to import and refine oil at plants such as the Total one at Grandpuits-Bailly-Carrois. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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