Christophe Béchu received at the FNTP to discuss the ecological transition of Public Works

While the urgency to act in the face of climate change is becoming more and more present, the FNTP requires more “coherence and actions” from the Government to invest in ecology. Indeed, the recent budgetary cuts to the green fund and transport credits are, according to Alain Grizaud, president of the FNTP, “worrying and incomprehensible”.

He notably recalled that the reduction of public deficits “cannot and must not have the effect of sacrificing the expenditure which conditions our common future”.

After recalling the commitments of the public works sector to ecological transformation, Alain Grizaud set out the expectations of this sector towards the Government:

• Make fewer standards and more investments: for the FNTP, “ecological planning should not result in ever more constraints, more standards”.
• The determining role of Public Works and infrastructure in ecological transformation: Alain Grizaud recalled that the public works sector is engaged “in an approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by adapting its methods of design and construction of works ". For example, he hopes that working groups on the subject of GNR substitution will finally be set up. In order to act for the ecological transition, the FNTP therefore wants the development of the fleet of nuclear power plants and renewable energies, the deployment of more charging stations for electric cars and railway investments, urban and road developments.

The FNTP also recalled the interest in carrying out curative and preventive work in order to “protect territories, property and people together”.

“At a minimum, the need for investment on the sole issue of infrastructure adaptation is 4,5 billion euros per year” for the FNTP.

For Alain Grizaud, president of the FNTP: “We believe that true public-private collaboration, whether in ecological engineering or financing, could contribute powerfully to the ecological transformation of our country. »

Christophe Béchu confirmed his conviction that “public works are one of the absolutely essential levers for the success of the ecological and energy transition” of France.

He also returned to the priority for him to invest in well-maintained roads before considering the installation of charging stations for electric cars. Concerning the transition to a fleet of 100% electric vehicles, he highlighted the need to find solutions to supply energy to all these new vehicles and therefore the need to potentially make major developments on, at least, the main roads. .

For the minister, this transition must be done in an ecological and social way at the same time, remembering that the transition can sometimes have a high cost.

According to Christophe Béchu, criticism concerning the budget reductions of various mechanisms such as the Green Fund to help with the ecological transition are due to mathematical misunderstandings. Indeed, according to him, none of the budgets for these measures has decreased, they have at worst stagnated and at best increased. The incomprehension would be linked to the fact that certain budgets have increased less than expected following the latest version of the public finance law.

Christophe Béchu pleads for investment and to avoid inaction which would cost more than acting now for the transition.

One point on which the president of the FNTP and the minister did not agree, however, is the too many standards. For Mr. Béchu, one of the levers for future projects is to be able to modify the standards to be able to take into account climate-related changes which were not foreseen several years ago. Thus the standard must make it possible to protect and regulate risks to better adapt to the challenges of tomorrow.