424 projects will be able to deviate from the zero net artificialization of land (ZAN) law

The Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, Christophe Béchu, is preparing to publish a decree concerning a list of 424 projects which could be excluded from the "zero net artificialization of soils" (ZAN) system and thus deviate from the “Climate and resilience” law.

"No industrial project has been refused on the list, no industrial project is blocked by the implementation of the ZAN", explains the minister's office, which ensures that these projects "make it possible to reconcile our ecological transition objectives with economic and territorial development.

Certain motorway projects - like the future A69 Castres-Toulouse motorway - the construction sites of future EPR2, or the lithium mine project in Allier: a total of 424 sites may deviate from the law.

The text concerned, the “Climate and Resilience” law, resulting from the Citizens’ Convention and voted in 2021, initially aimed for “zero net artificialization of soils” (ZAN) in 2050, with the intermediate objective of halving energy consumption. natural, agricultural and forestry spaces (Enaf) by 2031.

But since then, the text has continued to be contested by certain local elected officials - the system must be managed by the regions - and business leaders.

Faced with this outcry, the government attempted a first demining operation by having Parliament vote in the summer of 2023 on a new law intended to provide more flexibility to local elected officials to manage the ZAN system.

This text provides in particular to exclude "projects of national scope" from the count of artificialized areas, up to 12.500 hectares. In total, the 424 projects chosen by the Ministry of Ecological Transition cover a smaller surface area: 11.870 hectares.

The result of “exchanges” and “feedback” with the regions according to the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, the published list is divided into two categories: a first bringing together 167 “most mature and precise” projects " ; a second containing projects “which lack maturity at this stage” but which “aims to give visibility to local communities”.

Transmitted to local elected officials on Wednesday, the list will be published this Thursday and will be subject to public consultation for one month, specifies Christophe Béchu's office.

More than 20.000 hectares are artificialized each year in France, or nearly five football fields per hour, which contributes to the collapse of biodiversity, disrupts the water cycle and reduces carbon storage.