France: Record fine for air pollution
Once again, France has to pay a hefty fine for inadequate response to alarming air pollution levels - A record sum of 20 million euros, in the hope that it will finally make the state take action.
In 2017, the French government was ordered by the country's highest administrative court, the Council of State, to take "all necessary measures" to reduce air concentrations of pollutants in 12 areas. In 2021, a penalty payment of 10 million euros followed, as the limit values for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter were still exceeded in a total of 6 areas - despite numerous reminders from the Council of State and the Court of Justice of the European Union. Since the situation has not improved adequately in the eyes of the authorities, there is now a second conviction within two years - and this time the fine is even higher.
A few days ago, the Council of State had in fact decided that the government had not intervened sufficiently in recent years to proactively fight pollution. Numerous French cities - such as Paris, Lyon and Marseille - suffer from the problem of air pollution, which has demonstrable negative effects on citizens' health. A record fine of 20 million euros is consequently owed by France. A sum that should not just be perceived as an empty fine, because it is supposed to support environmentally protective initiatives. As in previous years, the money is supposed to go to public institutions working against air and environmental pollution.
The measures introduced by the government so far have not had a sufficiently decisive impact, especially in the short term. These include, for example, the establishment of environmental zones in urban areas, as well as purchase aid for electric vehicles. "They do not guarantee that air quality will improve in the shortest possible time," argues the Administrative Court. However, it did not mean that such measures should be completely abolished - but that supplements and the implementation of new emission-reducing initiatives must be included as well. The tightening and further introduction of low emission zones must also be accelerated. It is also important to initiate and promote changes in the mobility behaviour of citizens, starting for example with the daily use of private cars, in order to reduce the emissions balance of the transport sector in this way as well.
Because the air pollution situation in France will definitely not improve in the next few years without more stringent measures. This is mainly due to local weather conditions - influenced by global warming, among other things - which will continue to lead to considerable pollutant formation. If the French state remains inactive, or does not introduce sufficient measures and check on their implementation, a further penalty cannot be ruled out in the coming year. A considerable financial loss for the treasury, but in the eyes of the Council of State necessary to finally get France to roll up its sleeves in the fight against air pollution and avoid 40,000 deaths a year.