France reaffirms climate commitments at UN summit

ISTANBUL

French President Emmanuel Macron underscored his country’s commitment to meeting its climate goals while speaking Wednesday at the UN Climate Change Summit in New York while also calling for accelerated global action to phase out fossil fuels, protect biodiversity and reform international climate financing.

Macron highlighted that France has been in line with its carbon budget since 2017 and pledged that the country will continue along its path toward carbon neutrality by 2050.

He confirmed that France will submit its updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) before the end of the year, backed by both private and public investment.

“We must rise to the occasion,” he said, stressing the importance of the 30th United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP30) which will take place in November as a milestone for global climate action and expressing strong support for Brazil’s leadership under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and international negotiators preparing for the summit.

Among France’s priorities, Macron underlined a progressive phaseout of fossil fuels, binding objectives to reduce methane emissions under the Global Methane Pledge, and greater momentum on ecosystem restoration.

He highlighted the critical role of protecting oceans and primary forests, particularly the Amazon, pointing out that French Guiana places France within the Amazon basin.

France, he said, will propose new financing mechanisms to safeguard these ecosystems.

Macron also celebrated progress on biodiversity governance, noting the ratification of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ). He urged more nations to join the moratorium on deep-sea mining and reiterated France’s dedication to the “30x30” global biodiversity target set in Montreal.

On climate finance, Macron highlighted the European Union’s position as the world’s leading donor, pledging €28 billion ($32.8 billion), with France and its development agency contributing €7 billion.

"We've tripled our commitment over the last decade and will continue to mobilize on international finance," he added.

He also called for reforms at the World Bank and the IMF to ensure that climate vulnerability is better considered in allocating funds and argued that “no country should have to choose between combating poverty and protecting the planet.”

Stressing the need for science-driven policy and collective mobilization involving governments, businesses, scientists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Macron said that Paris will continue to support innovative financing mechanisms such as biodiversity credits and resilience projects developed with partner countries.

“Let’s keep it simple,” he added.

“We must accelerate, we must protect, and we must mobilize together. That is the only way forward.”