The current round of global soul-searching about our blighted system of economic organization has led to an upsurge of activity in the field of alternative metrics. In France, on Sept 14, Nicholas Sarkozy unveiled the findings of a commission he appointed last year to study new, alternative measurements of social progress in a [...]
Archive for the ‘policy’ Category
French panel urges carbon tax
Posted in climate change, policy on August 1, 2009 | 1 Comment »
A French government panel has recommended the imposition of a carbon tax on transport and heating fuel as soon as 2010. The panel, headed by former Prime Minister Michel Rocard, recommended last month that the tax be imposed on all citizens “without exception and exemption”. A commitment to the carbon tax was one of the [...]
New EU law on organic agriculture is a step backwards for France
Posted in agriculture, health, policy on May 4, 2009 | 2 Comments »
France will lose its familiar green Agriculture Biologique (AB) label next year. New rules came into effect on Jan 1, 2009 aimed at harmonizing standards among the 27 European Union nations on organic agriculture. While the text seeks to simplify and impose common standards, the net effect for countries like France is to considerably lower [...]
French food safety agency rules that GM corn is safe
Posted in Grenelle, agriculture, biodiversity, food, policy on February 12, 2009 | 3 Comments »
The French food safety agency, AFSSA, has ruled that MON 810 corn – transgenic corn manfactured by Monsanto – does not constitute a health risk. The ruling, dated Jan 23 but kept secret until an exclusive in today’s Le Figaro, is a political time bomb for the government, already snowed under with strike action from [...]
What’s left of the Grenelle?
Posted in Grenelle, biodiversity, climate change, health, policy, renewable energy, transport on December 18, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Eighteen months after the Grenelle de l’Environnement, it’s worth taking a look at what’s left of the promises made by President Sarkozy and Jean-Louis Borloo in October 2007. At the time, the meeting was welcomed as innovative and participatory because it brought NGOs into the decision-making process.
Since then those same NGOs have been criticized for [...]
France to offer 30,000-euro zero interest loan for eco-renovation
Posted in Grenelle, climate change, design and architecture, policy on September 13, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Home owners in France take note. The French government is planning to offer a zero-interest loan of up to 30,000 euros for eco-renovation. If approved, this plan will take effect as part of the 2009 budget. Dubbed “éco-PTZ” (pret a taux zero), the loan is open to anyone, with no revenue conditions attached, and is [...]
New hope for seed biodiversity in France
Posted in agriculture, biodiversity, policy on July 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
2008 did not get off to a good start for seed biodiversity in France. In February, Kokopelli was fined in two court cases for the crime of selling traditional and ancient seed varieties which were not listed on an “official”, government-approved list. Kokopelli is a non-profit French group set up in 1999 to safeguard endangered seed [...]
How did Sarkozy do on the environment in his first year?
Posted in Grenelle, health, policy, transport on April 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
France Nature Environnement (FNE), a federation of environmental NGOs, delivers a mixed score card on Sarkozy’s efforts on the environment during his first year in office. It is worth recalling that Sarkozy was rated the least environment-friendly of all the candidates in the presidential election campaign, well behind his Socialist rival Segolene Royale. But he [...]
