Latest news with #MaPrimeRénov
LeMonde
17 hours ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Macron's outburst on environmental issues
For four days, President Emmanuel Macron sought to restore his environmental credentials, launching a full-scale counteroffensive on diplomatic, media and political fronts. ON Tuesday, June 10, he vigorously defended the United Nations Ocean Conference, which France co-chaired in Nice with Costa Rica. On Saturday, in an interview with the regional daily press, he publicly rebuked both the government and Parliament, slamming the "enormous mistake" of those seeking to undermine "the priority given to climate in public debate," as key measures of the environmental transition are under attack. Since François Bayrou's appointment as prime minister, the president's tone had never been so forceful. It is in proportion to the possibility that Macron's initial ambitions might be reduced to almost nothing. Amid the many difficulties he faced toward the end of his term, Macron's predecessor, Socialist François Hollande, could at least point to the success of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21). By contrast, what we are witnessing today is the dismantling of the 2021 Climate and Resilience Law, with the rollback of the zero net land artificialization target, the elimination of low-emission zones and the loosening of environmental standards. Similarly, the temporary reintroduction of a neonicotinoid pesticide banned since 2020 and the early June announcement of the provisional suspension of one of the government's main programs to support household energy renovation (MaPrimeRénov') on the grounds that it allegedly attracted too much fraud, have fueled the impression of a major step backward. Avoiding a criminal waste of time Macron's determination to defend a path that runs counter to the climate skepticism of the far right and at odds with the anti-growth movement that is flourishing among some on the left is unmistakable. Neither accusations of never doing enough, nor the strong public backlash against the proposed carbon tax at the start of his first term (which led to the Yellow Vest protests), nor the current setbacks, seemed to have deterred him from pursuing what he called, in September 2023, "Ecologie à la française" or French-style ecology: science-driven, compatible with economic growth, innovative, competitive, able to boost the country's energy sovereignty and leaving no one behind. The sense of failure is no less real, however, as the promise, induced by environmental planning, to bring about a genuine change in lifestyles over the long term and with minimal social upheaval has not been kept. Budget reversals, the loss of an absolute majority in the Assemblée Nationale after his reelection in 2022 and the rise of the far right across France and Europe, amid farmers' protests and backlash against regulations, have derailed the ambitions set at the start of Macron's second five-year term (he can't run a third time). The president's outburst was not just an attempt to salvage his record two years before the end of his term. It is also a warning for the future. The many would-be successors – both on the right and among Macronists – who are unraveling his policies or letting them slide must pull themselves together, as threats to food, health, biodiversity, water, and the climate are accelerating and multiplying. Assuming they do wake up, the main challenge will not be to announce their intentions, but to build a consensus around a method to avoid backtracking and wasting time, which would be criminal. At this point, this is wishful thinking, given how divided and short-sighted France's political landscape appears to be.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
France Suspends Home Renovation Grants Amid Fraud, High Demand
France will temporarily suspend a program of grants for home renovations as it is overwhelmed by demand and attempted fraud. The public subsidies known as MaPrimeRénov' offer individuals financial support with works to improve the energy efficiency of residences.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Macron Says Subsidy for Energy Efficient Homes Should Continue
French President Emmanuel Macron called on his government to continue a home renovation subsidy program after the finance ministry said it would temporarily halt the grants. The program, known as MaPrimeRénov, offers financial support to homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Access to the system was frozen when the 2025 budget was delayed after the government collapsed last December, leading to an avalanche of requests when it reopened, Finance Minister Eric Lombard said.
Local France
04-06-2025
- Business
- Local France
Fears France will suspend property grant scheme
The MaPrimeRénov' scheme had been due to undergo radical change, anyway – with financial aid for smaller scale works phased out in favour of more extensive renovation work – but a decree issued in the closing days of Michel Barnier's short-lived government meant it had something of a reprieve . This scheme was introduced in 2020 to help pay for energy-related renovations. Specifically, the work would need to fit into one of four categories: heating, insulation, ventilation and energy audits. But it seems MaPrimeRénov' will be suspended from July until at least the end of the year, Le Parisien reports. The regional daily quotes 'a source' who said: 'Funds allocated for the whole of 2025 have already been almost entirely used up.' Advertisement It is suspected that the government's efforts to find €40 billion in savings in the next finance bill – due to be debated in the next parliamentary session – has prompted the decision. For the past two years, the state's share of funding for the scheme has been steadily reduced. By 2024, it was already down €2 billion of the amount initially planned, falling from €4.5 billion to €2.3 billion. The excessive complexity of the scheme prevented all funds from being used. Only 350,000 renovation projects were carried out last year, compared to the 600,000 planned. This year, the government had committed €2.3 billion to the scheme – which has almost been entirely allocated already, while the convoluted debate over the 2025 budget, which led to the downfall of Barnier's administration, meant numerous projects were shelved because the funding could not be allocated. Households whose applications have already been approved can, in principle, expect to receive the aid they are entitled to. However, delays in payment are to be expected. The government's decision will prevent new applications from being approved, depriving hundreds of thousands of individuals of the opportunity to carry out renovation work and reducing their energy bills. Government officials have insisted that it's too early to signal the death knell for the scheme: 'Nothing has been finalised, discussions are ongoing,' Le Parisien was told. Advertisement 'The fight against fraud and reducing the time taken to process applications remain priorities.' Many who have applied for MaPrimeRénov' are also pointing to shortcomings in official inspections. Thousands of complaints are currently being investigated by administrative courts across the country. Several companies in the sector are also preparing to take legal action against the Agence National de l'Habitat (Anah), seeking compensation for losses due – they say – to poor administration of the scheme. According to the Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (Insee), housing is the fourth biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in France, after road transport, agriculture and industry.
