France’s National Low-Carbon Strategy: Can It Work Without Slowing Down?

In order to become carbon-neutral by 2050, France has adopted an ambitious roadmap that concerns all sectors of the economy. Of particular importance is passenger transport, since the National Low-Carbon Strategy (in French, SNBC, for Stratégie nationale bas-carbone) aims to make this almost entirely carbon-free. Aurélien Bigo draws on the historical evolution of carbon emissions to assess the SNBC in light of various future scenarios. He asks whether the government’s scenario can work without slowing down travel if it seeks to properly address the urgency of the energy transition.