This law anchors ecology in our society: in our public services, in the education of our children, in our town planning, in our movements, in our consumption patterns, in our justice. It profoundly changes our lifestyles.
An unprecedented democratic exercise
It is the first time that a panel of citizens is directly involved in the preparation of a law. Composed of 150 citizens drawn by lot, the Citizen's Convention for the Climate was established in October 2019, by decision of the President of the Republic. Its mandate: to define a series of measures to achieve a reduction of at least 40% of our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (compared to 1990) in a spirit of social justice. The bill is the direct result of their 146 proposals retained by the President of the Republic.
Key measures concerning the construction industry
Ban on rental of thermal strainers
France has around 4,8 million thermal strainers, the heating cost of which can amount to several thousand euros per year. The building sector is also the second most emitting sector of greenhouse gases in our country, with 20% of national emissions.
Measure: The bill prohibits the rental of thermal strainers from 2028, to protect tenants against excessively high energy bills and to give landlords the time needed to renovate the homes they rent. Tenants of thermal strainers may require renovation work from their lessor. By 2028, it will be prohibited to increase the rent of F and G housing (thermal strainers) when the lease is renewed or when the rental is re-let.
Article 41 | Prohibition of rent increases when the tenant changes, when the lease is renewed or during the lease
Article 42 | Rental ban on energy strainers
Division by two of the rate of land artificialization
Urban sprawl and the artificialization of soils destroy and fragment natural, agricultural and forest areas. They thus contribute to the degradation of ecosystems and to the erosion of biodiversity (disappearance of species of insects, birds, mammals), but also to global warming (reduction of the CO2 absorption capacity of soils. ). They also represent economic and social challenges for residents and regions (loss of attractiveness of town centers, vacant housing, closure of shops, distance from employment and services). Finally, artificialization increases the vulnerability of certain territories to natural risks, in particular by making the soils impermeable to rain (floods, forest fires).
Measure: the bill defines the notion of land artificialization and includes in law an objective of reducing by two the rate of artificialization over the next ten years compared to the previous decade. It organizes the application of this objective by local authorities, in conjunction with the State, through regional planning documents to municipal and inter-municipal documents. This makes it possible to ensure that the objective is respected while adapting it to the needs of each territory, in particular to guarantee their development.
Article 47 | National objective for the fight against the artificialization of soils, integration of the fight against the artificialization of soils in the general principles of the town planning code and definition of the artificialization of soils
Article 48 | Definition of a path for reducing soil artificialization and prohibiting artificialization as long as there are available urbanized areas
Low emission zones in the big cities of France
Air pollution causes nearly 48 premature deaths in our country every year. Urban areas are often the most affected. It is essential to organize more sustainable and less polluting mobility in these areas, including by supporting the development of cycling, carpooling or public transport.
Measure: the bill makes it compulsory to set up low-emission mobility zones (ZFE-m) for agglomerations with more than 150.000 inhabitants by December 31, 2024. In these zones, the circulation of the most vehicles pollutants is limited and the conversion premium may benefit from a supplement. Restrictions are planned for Crit'Air 3 vehicles in 2025 for areas still in excess. To facilitate their establishment, the police power linked to the ZFE-m is transferred to the president of the public establishment of inter-municipal cooperation.
Article 27 | Low emission zones
Creation of a “CO2 score” to display the impact on the climate of goods and services consumed by the French
Informing consumers so that they can choose products with the least impact on the environment is essential as production and consumption methods are decisive in the battle for the climate and the preservation of biodiversity and resources.
Measure: a "climate label", integrated into the environmental labeling created by the anti-waste law, providing information on the climate impact of products and services consumed by the French, called the CO2 score, is implemented. It also provides for the possibility of making this display mandatory progressively on the various ranges of products and services as and when the experiments are received. A decree will also define the criteria making it possible to evaluate on this basis the goods and services having the greatest impact of their category on greenhouse gas emissions.
Article 1 | Environmental display
Creation of an ecocide offense
France further punishes environmental banditry.
Measure: a general pollution offense is put in place which will punish legal and natural persons who cause serious and lasting damage to the environment, in manifestly deliberate violation of a rule of prudence or safety. When offenders could not ignore the seriousness of the consequences of their actions, these people will then incur sentences of up to 10 years in prison and a 4,5 million euro fine, or even a fine of up to ten times. the benefit obtained by the offender by damaging the environment. This ecocide offense is thus the most serious version of the general pollution offense.
Article 68 | General offense of water and air pollution supplemented by reinforced penalties on the ground, offense of ecocide in its aggravated form.