France’s greenhouse gas emissions fell 4.1 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to Citepa, the body that tracks national emissions. They could drop 2.8 percent over the whole year, helped by transport and heating. The main reason is a sharp fall in fuel use as prices hit record highs.
Transport emissions, which make up about a third of the total, fell 4.5 percent in the first half. Diesel sales dropped 7.3 percent as its price rose about 45 percent since the start of the year. Overall road fuel use fell 5 percent between January and September, compared with falls of less than 1 percent a year in 2024 and 2025. Citepa expects transport emissions to keep falling in the second half at a similar pace. But this drop is largely endured by drivers, and consumption should rise again once prices stop soaring.
Heating contributed even more to the fall, with emissions down 12 percent from 2025. The drop in fossil gas use for homes and buildings is mainly due to milder weather, especially a very warm February, 3.5°C above seasonal norms. Citepa says longer-lasting factors like better energy efficiency and the replacement of fossil heating systems may also play a role, though it expects a slight rebound in the second half.
Other sectors show small declines. Manufacturing and construction emissions should fall 1.8 percent, and agriculture 1.3 percent. France’s power is about 95 percent low-carbon, but emissions from electricity production count at home even when the power is exported. Total emissions could reach 349.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, above the government’s target path, which calls for cuts of 5 to 6 percent a year.
Reference
Mouterde, P. (2026, October 13). Les émissions de gaz à effet de serre en France diminuent du fait de l’envolée des prix des carburants. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2026/10/13/les-emissions-de-gaz-a-effet-de-serre-en-france-diminuent-du-fait-de-l-envolee-des-prix-des-carburants_6793062_3244.html