Heating and air travel are key factors in the carbon footprint of the French

Heating and the frequency of air travel are the two determining factors for the individual carbon footprint of the French, according to a group of experts on the subject, Citepa, in a study published on Thursday, November 6.

Citepa, the association mandated by the government to estimate France's greenhouse gas emissions, conducted a study with the Association for Low Carbon Transition (ABC) of approximately 2.000 people interviewed by OpinionWay between November 2024 and February 2025.

The survey revealed that the carbon footprint of the French, measured in tonnes of CO2 equivalent emitted per person per year, varied significantly depending on their lifestyle. Among those surveyed, it ranged from 3,0 to 83,6 tonnes, with an average of 8,5 tonnes.

Citepa and ABC note the "impact of housing and transport".

"The type of heating and the level of its consumption will be very important factors in the carbon footprint," they explain.

Two energy sources stand out for their high emissions: propane and heating oil. More common than propane, heating oil is a heating method characteristic of "rural households living in precarious conditions in energy-inefficient homes," according to the study's authors. It generates an average of 7,5 tonnes of emissions.

Heat pumps, wood and electricity (which heats 55% of those surveyed) are, on the contrary, the least emitting heating methods.

In terms of transportation, respondents differ greatly depending on whether they travel by air or not, which is clearly correlated with income level, but also with age.

26% of them took a flight in 2023, and "air travel is more common among young people and high earners, contributing significantly to the carbon footprint of transport", the study points out.

Transport accounts for an average of 1,7 tonnes of emissions, very unevenly distributed depending on lifestyle. Frequent use of a car can therefore increase these emissions.

The two other categories of greenhouse gas emissions considered, those related to food and the rest of consumption, reveal much smaller inequalities between respondents.

Nearly three-quarters of the French emit between 1,5 and three tonnes of CO2 per year due to their diet. Few emit less than one tonne or more than three tonnes.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.