The spread of urbanisation in France has seen a reduction in the potential for carbon sequestration.
We were commissioned to identify and assess a range of measures to foster the reduction of the carbon impact of the land planning sector.
A shrinking green estate
The Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) has modeled several pathways as part of their Transition(s) 2050 scenarios. The current approach to urban development present opportunities for reform.
Each year, the carbon sequestration potential of land in France decreases by 11 million tons of CO₂ equivalent due to land being converted for urban and other uses, representing 2.5% of France’s total emissions in 2019.
This increasing trend has seen the reduction in factors like animal biodiversity, national agricultural production capacity, and the management of stormwater (water runoff). All are key contributors to sequestration.
Redefining urban planning policy
We were asked by ADEME to provide a report, in collaboration with Greenflex, that considers the national approach to decarbonisation. Our analysis would support the necessary transformations through a set of public policy measures that could be implemented to encourage, and in some cases mandate, change.
We proposed 79 measures covering all areas of consumption and production, including the land use planning and development sector. Five measures were identified to facilitate the transition, among which were:
- Reform urban planning taxation by granting an exemption from the development tax if the building's footprint is not modified
- Include in municipal or inter-municipal local urban plans (PLU or PLUi) — which define land use and development conditions — a minimum density threshold and a minimum urban renewal/mixing rate per sector to encourage the transformation of suburban and commercial areas
- Strengthen control over the declassification of natural, agricultural, and forest areas (ENAF) in case of revision or modification of PLU/PLUi
Authors
Catherine has over a decade of experience advising clients on strategy, regulatory and policy issues across sectors, with a focus on energy and transport, in France and at EU level.
View profile
Based at the Paris office, Mattania has worked on a wide range of projects, including regulatory and competition issues.
View profile
Based in Frontier’s Paris office, Noémie primarily works across our Energy and Competition practices.
View profile
Pia joined Frontier’s Paris office in 2019 and has been working across the energy, public policy and competition practice.
View profile
