France : New Environmental Policies

Transport
 Introduction of a green tax disc with a “bonus” to buyers of new fuel-efficient cars. This bonus would be financed by an annual tax on the most polluting cars ;

 Increase of the tax mileage for lorries ;

 Development of the rail freight industry ;

 Creation of 1250 miles of high-speed rail tracks by 2020

Building Industry

 New public buildings will have to respect a low energy-consumption policy (50 kWh / m² per year) by 2010 and by 2012 for the private sector ;

 Old buildings which will develop new access for the handicapped will also undergo a thermal renovation ;

 Energy assessment made compulsory as early as 2008 ;

 Introduction of “powerful incentive mechanisms” for the private sector.

Agriculture

 Cut in half the use of pesticides “if possible within the next ten years,” says Nicolas Sarkozy ;

 Freeze GM plantations until new research is carried out ;

 Creation of an independent bio-diverse authority,

Biodiversity

 Creation of a “green network” connecting different "natural areas" to facilitate the movement of plants and animals.

Translator’s Note : Those measures have been decided by the “Grenelle de l’environement” which consists of political meeting during the whole the month of October to discuss French environmental policies.