France Faces Fourth Climate Lawsuit Over Fair Share in Global Emissions Reduction Efforts

December 4, 2025
France Faces Fourth Climate Lawsuit Over Fair Share in Global Emissions Reduction Efforts
  • Notre Affaire à Tous filed a legal action with the Conseil d’État against the French government, arguing France has not met its equitable share in global climate mitigation given its historical responsibility and financial capacity.

  • This marks the fourth climate-related lawsuit against France, continuing a campaign that includes a 2021 ruling for insufficient emissions reductions and a recent Conseil d’État decision demanding further measures to reach 2030 targets.

  • The case seeks a ruling that France shows a persistent delay in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fails to meet its fair contribution to climate action.

  • The group expects a court decision in 2026, with a late-2026 ruling anticipated as stated by Jérémie Suissa, the general delegate of Notre Affaire à Tous.

  • The report notes ongoing subscriber-only content and references related Le Monde sections on Environment and Climate Change.

  • The first decision is anticipated in 2026 and is part of a process to push for a more equitable distribution of climate efforts nationally and internationally.

  • The coalition cites recent filings by NGOs in June 2025 before the Conseil d’État aimed at strengthening adaptation to climate change, described as unprecedented in Europe.

  • In 2024, France’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.8%, well below the roughly 5% annual reduction target, raising concerns about the political and budgetary outlooks for climate action.

  • Assessment from Citepa shows a slow pace of emission reductions, with an expected 0.8% decrease projected for 2025.

  • The objective of the legal action is to compel the state to acknowledge its fair share in the global climate effort and to recognize a persistent delay in reducing emissions.

  • The advocacy follows earlier constitutional rulings, including the 2021 high-profile verdict against the state in the so-called ‘Affaire du siècle’ over climate inaction.

  • Notre Affaire à Tous filed a new appeal on January 11, 2025 with the Conseil d’État, named the 'Procès pour la part juste'.

Summary based on 5 sources


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