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France
Voluntary National Review 2016
France strongly supported the United Nations’ adoption in September 2015 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which sets 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the world to eradicate extreme poverty, combat inequalities and protect the planet.

This first universal approach provides a new framework for development policies for the next 15 years. It builds on the eight Millennium Development Goals implemented since 2000, which have contributed to real progress with tackling hunger, poverty and child mortality, rolling back pandemics, and improving access to water and education.

Unlike the Millennium Development Goals, the new Sustainable Development Goals have a universal dimension and apply to all development challenges in all countries. In addition to the poverty reduction goals, the agenda features new goals to which France is equally attached with respect to environmental protection, gender equality, universal medical coverage, tackling illicit financial flows and corruption, and good governance.

Given our long-standing, unremitting commitment to sustainable development, France has volunteered to present its 2030 Agenda implementation approach at the very first high-level political forum held since the adoption of this agenda.

This report draws on consultations with civil society to present a first review of the implementation of each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in France, identifying the main issues and challenges, government courses of action, and good practices and model measures already in place in a spirit of experience sharing.

IMPLEMENTING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN FRANCE: ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CHALLENGES

France has achieved a high standard of living and quality of life driven by inclusive social security systems (unemployment benefits, supplementary benefits and redistributive policy) and access for all to healthcare and basic goods and services (water, energy, quality food and education). The country has also developed state-ofthe- art public and private infrastructures (innovation and research, transport, communications, and cultural heritage).

Yet there is still work to be done, especially to reduce social, educational and gender inequalities, maintain healthy ecosystems and sustainably manage natural resources.In a climate of low growth and despite a downturn in recent months, unemployment remains persistently too high, especially among young people.

FRANCE IMPLEMENTS THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT AND PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

On 17 August 2015, well before COP21, the Energy Transition for Green Growth Act gave legislative shape to France’s voluntary commitment to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.

The act sets targets to increase the share of renewable energy sources to over 30% of final energy consumption in 2030 and bring down the share of nuclear power in electricity generation to 50% by 2025.

The Government led Parliament to pass a “climate energy contribution” on greenhouse gas emissions built into the taxes on petroleum products on a pathway, already adopted by Parliament, set to rise from €56 per tonne of CO2 in 2020 to €100 per tonne of CO2 in 2030. It will propose that Parliament introduce a price floor on carbon of some €30 per tonne in the power generation sector in 2017.

In June 2016, France was one of the first industrialised countries to complete its domestic process to ratify the Paris Agreement and is working with its European partners for the EU in its entirety to ratify it as soon as possible. As a contribution to rapidly increase collective ambition, France committed to upgrade its mitigation target by 2020.

FRANCE, A LAND OF POSITIVE ENERGY FOR GREEN GROWTH

In 2013, the French Government launched the New Face of Industry in France initiative to position French businesses on new economic growth markets. The projects backed by the initiative mainstream environmental goals.

Two industrial solutions focus more especially on the energy transition: New Resources and Sustainable Cities. The Government’s Industry of the Future programme designed to modernise the French productive machine based on the use of digital technologies also includes a goal to improve the energy efficiency of industrial processes.

As test grounds for the ecological transition, local authorities are encouraged to put in place solutions to develop energy-smart housing retrofits and efficient public transport networks funded by the Energy Transition Fund (with a three-year budget of €350 million), to promote a low-carbon footprint and green urban areas, and to tackle social-spatial segregation. Rural areas are also part of this environmental approach, with the promotion of agroecology to produce safe, sufficient food.

France, as one of the ten countries with the largest number of endangered species, due mainly to pressures overseas and in the Mediterranean, has taken measures to protect its marine and land ecosystems against artificial land cover, overexploitation of resources, climate change and pollution.

The French bill for the restoration of biodiversity, nature and landscapes, which is currently being debated, thus provides for the ratification of the Nagoya Protocol, the acknowledgement of the notion of ecological prejudice, the establishment of action plans for all threatened species in France, the enhancement of protection of marine biodiversity, the prohibition of neonicotinoids, and the exchange of traditional seed.

THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING FOR EMPLOYMENT.

In December 2015, France’s unemployment rate stood at 10.2%, just below average for the eurozone (10.4%). However, the country posted 25.9% under-25 jobseekers compared with 19.7% for the eurozone.

Three years ago, France introduced a plan to tackle unemployment based on three priorities.

  • The first priority is to reduce social security charges, mainly with the emergency plan for employment, which should see one million people hired in 2016.
  • The second priority is to improve vocational training with the reform of the national vocational training system and measures taken in 2016 to double the number of training courses for jobseekers. The aim is to train a total of one million people or 20% of all jobseekers.
  • Lastly, although an average 600,000 employees will retire each year through to 2020, a total of 700,000 young people per year will enter the labour market at the same time. The Act of 1 March 2013 hence introduced the Intergenerational Contract to foster youth employment. This scheme hires young people on open-ended contracts, retains older workers and smooths the transfer of vocational skills. In September 2015, over 100,000 young and older workers were on an Intergenerational Contract.

Although this ambitious policy is starting to pay off, the number of young people entering the labour market every year calls for an offensive employment policy combined with a revised industrial policy.

A HIGH-QUALITY SOCIAL SOLIDARITY SYSTEM WHOSE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED.

In the last 70 years, France has developed a social security system that protects people living in France from social risks (illness, accidents and family welfare) and pays them a pension in retirement.

Any person residing legally in France is also guaranteed a minimum income and essential services (education, housing benefit, power supply, culture, etc.) as social inclusion and poverty exit mechanisms. These take the form of welfare, supplementary benefits and free public services.

France also promotes access to culture and national heritage for all population groups, in particular with programmes for young people from disadvantaged areas.

These measures are provided mainly by central or local government, but civil society also makes a significant contribution. Associations and many businesses play an important solidarity role, with free meals as well as literacy, social reintegration and back-to-work actions.

France also redistributes wealth across the nation. Former industrial areas, for example, receive funds to finance their redevelopment.

This solidarity system driven by social and intergenerational solidarity relies on continued efforts to restore the balance of the social security accounts for it to maintain the same, if not higher, level of quality.

WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE TO REDUCE SOCIAL INEQUALITIES.

In France today, one in seven households lives below the poverty line (income of less than €960 per month) and one in five children is highly vulnerable. A total of 22% of the people below the poverty line live in a situation of food insecurity.

With 78.3% of baccalauréat holders in one generation in 2015, France has virtually achieved its target 80% baccalauréat pass rate. Nevertheless, the weight of social class in academic achievement remains high and an estimated 20% of pupils have academic difficulties.

In terms of remuneration, men still earn 23.5% more on average than women for the same number of working hours, especially in executive positions.

As the bedrock for social unity and cohesion, tackling inequalities calls for new social mobility drivers. The French Government is totally committed to this and a particular effort is being made in the most disadvantaged areas, from neighbourhood to regional level, to identify the main factors of inequality and reduce them by means of education and training in particular.

Social inequalities go hand in hand with environmental inequalities. So the public policies in France are also designed to reduce exposure to risks and hazards (pollution, natural disasters, etc.), tackle fuel poverty and facilitate access to nature for all.

ACTIONS TO IMPROVE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY

France is a well-established democracy based on a robust political and legal system, which offers sound guarantees to French citizens and foreign nationals to effectively assert their rights. Human rights and equality of all citizens before the law, without distinction of gender, race or religion are written into the French Constitution and their respect guaranteed by the courts.

This framework has been improved in recent years with the introduction of independent administrative authorities, scaled-up court supervision, especially when public and individual freedoms are in issue, and legislative measures such as legalising same-sex marriage.

France has also taken new measures to improve the transparency of political life, streamline administrative formalities and deepen our democratic tools, based especially on the use of digital means (public consultations, consensus conferences and local referendums). Every year, the “environmental conference” thus mobilizes the whole government to find responses to the demands of civil society representatives including local governments, unions, businesses and NGOs.

AN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

FRANCE, FIFTH LARGEST GLOBAL DONOR, COMMITS TO INCREASE ITS INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY EFFORT

From 2013 to 2015, French bilateral aid helped put 2.6 million children in primary and middle school, gave 3.8 million people access to a sustainable source of clean drinking water and supported the development of 150,000 small businesses.

France has renewed its pledge to scale up its official development assistance, which stood at €8.3 billion or 0.37% of gross national income in 2015, 22% of which went to the least developed countries.

The target is to reach the collective European Union goal of official development assistance standing at 0.7% of gross national income by 2030, with a special effort made for the least developed countries (short-term target of 0.15% to 0.2% of gross national income).

To this end, France has undertaken to earmark an additional €4 billion per year to fund development by 2020, including €2 billion for climate change action, bringing the French Agency for Development’s volume of financial assistance to over €12.5 billion per year. Accordingly, it will increase the volume of funds allocated to climate change adaptation to €1 billion per year in 2020. Lastly, France will allocate nearly €400 million more in grants by 2020 compared with their current level.

FRANCE IS A GLOBAL ADVOCATE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

In July 2014, the Pluriannual Development and International Solidarity Policy Act was passed upstream of the 2030 Agenda. It focuses on the different dimensions of sustainable development (economic growth, poverty eradication and protecting the planet), stresses the need for an integrated approach and onboards nongovernmental players in the definition of action priorities.

In 2013, France set the French Agency for Development the ambitious target of supporting at least 50% of projects with a climate co-benefit, a target that it has already achieved.

France proposed a reform of global environmental governance, which has seen the scaling up of the United Nations Environment Programme. In the scientific field, France made a strong commitment to set up the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Likewise, France worked closely on the negotiations for the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and actively promoted a number of objectives high on its list of development policy priorities: environmental and climate sustainability, gender equality (especially sexual and reproductive health and rights), universal health coverage, transparency, with a governance and rule of law objective, and sustainable cities.

France hosted and chaired COP21, which drove the first universal agreement on climate that calls for respect for human rights and recognizing the specific role of women, and has since then it called for rapid ratification by all the parties.

With Peru, and then Morocco, and the United Nations, France encouraged all civil society players to be rallied to this cause under the “Lima-Paris Action Agenda”, which today united 10,000 players from over 180 countries working in 70 international and multi-partner coalitions.

Lastly, it also actively defends the principle of carbon pricing at European and international level.

FRANCE TAKES AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AND FINANCING

In 2004, France took the initiative, with Brazil and Chile, to propose putting in place international solidarity taxes on activities that benefit the most from globalisation to provide innovative development financing in addition to budget resources. It introduced these taxes on airline tickets and financial transactions, providing funding to tackle the pandemics and take climate change action.

France fully supports the broad, modern vision of development financing, rallying all stakeholders and available sources of financing, as it is endorsed in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda adopted by the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in July 2015.

To this end, the French Agency for Development has a wide range of financial tools (grants, soft loans and hard loans to public and private partners, equity stakes, guarantees, etc.) and works with an array of players. It is one of the rare development institutions able to directly assist local government bodies. Private sector engagement in development policies is also encouraged.

In 2016, France adopted a strategy entitled “Let’s Innovate Together” to prompt businesses to take corporate social responsibility (CSR) to the next level and encourage social and cooperative economic initiatives. France has also stepped up its support for non-state entities in recent years with the aim of doubling funds allocated to non-governmental organisations from 2012 to 2017.

Different tools are used depending on the partner country’s level of development and the issues addressed. By way of illustration, two-thirds of French Agency for Development grants are earmarked for 16 priority poor countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In early 2016, France launched a reform of its development cooperation mechanism by establishing links between the French Agency for Development and the Deposits and Loans Fund and giving it a larger budget to build its intervention capacities and its multi-partner dimension.

THE METHOD USED TO MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: THE CHOICE OF A PARTICIPATORY FRAMEWORK

INTERMINISTERIAL COORDINATION BASED ON THE PRIME MINISTER’S AUTHORITY AND THE MINISTERS’ PERSONAL COMMITMENT

The Interministerial Representative for Sustainable Development and General Commissioner for Sustainable Development steered the drafting of this first report on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, as tasked by the Prime Minister. She heads up the network of senior officials for sustainable development.

On 6 June 2016, Ségolène Royal, Minister of the Environment, Energy and the Sea, in charge of Sustainable Development, and André Vallini, Minister of State for Development and Francophonie, launched consultative workshops on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. These workshops held at the end of Sustainable Development Week were attended by over 180 participants from all walks of life: international solidarity, the environment, social sectors, education, etc.

WORK IS UNDERWAY TO DEVELOP INDICATORS TO MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

France has been closely involved in the process to define global indicators to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals. These indicators will be formally endorsed by the UN General Assembly in the near future. The French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) is already conducting a feasibility study with all the ministries’ statistical departments on their production at national level. The government statistics system should be able to produce just over half of the indicators (given or comparable definition) in the short to medium term. The indicators could be transposed nationally.

In keeping with the objective to develop new wealth indicators, the Act of 13 April 2015 has given France ten new wealth indicators. These indicators are presented in the appendix to this first report and are to be factored into public policymaking to extend the measurement of progress beyond mere gross domestic product. They cover employment, investment, national debt, health, inequalities, education, environmental protection and happiness.

These indicators, driven by the 2030 Agenda, are consistent with the national reform programme, which is the national version of the European Commission’s Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS CHOSEN BROAD-BASED ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY RIGHT FROM THIS PILOT PHASE.

France considers that the involvement of civil society, the private sector and the general public is key to the success of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and, more generally, to public policymaking. It considers that deepening democracy is one of the best responses to the rise of all forms of radicalism and exclusion.

National representative civil society bodies such as the National Council for Ecological Transition, the National Council for Development and International Solidarity and the National Advisory Commission on Human Rights were consulted in the preparation of this report. The Economic, Social and Environmental Council was also tasked by the Prime Minister with submitting a report in the autumn to inform the next Interministerial Committee for International Cooperation and Development (CICID) meeting.

A committee of international experts was set up to inform government thinking on the development of the next national action plan. The multidisciplinary nature of this committee is designed to guarantee a holistic approach to the challenges and better capture the systemic nature of the Sustainable Development Goals.

A public consultation open to all has been launched on the Internet to guarantee the inclusiveness of the consultation process.

NEXT STEPS: DEVELOP A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

A national action plan will be developed, working with all players at each stage (definition, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and regular reviews).

Under a parliamentary mission mandate, the ministries’ general inspectorates could analyse sector policies conducted in their areas to produce a more detailed public policy evaluation with respect to the Sustainable Development Goals. The findings of these evaluations could form the basis of recommendations and inform the public and civil debate.

The national action plan will be driven by the ambition of the broadest possible mobilisation for the success of the Sustainable Development Goals: shared vision, government measures and public policy guidelines for sustainable development, assistance to players in their fields of activity, especially economic players, citizens’ ownership of the Sustainable Development Goals, rollout at all levels (national, regional and local), international actions, especially with the European Union, the International Organisation of the Francophonie and the United Nations, synergies between and promotion of initiatives and good practices by all players, etc.

Regional consultative workshops could be held in autumn 2016 for local players to take up the Sustainable Development Goals and contribute to the national action plan. Shared local diagnoses could be conducted to identify the assets and challenges of the French mainland and overseas regions with respect to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The regional economic, social and environmental councils could be usefully associated with these diagnoses.

A participatory Internet platform (www.agendafrance2030.gouv.fr) will propose an open digital commons to all players and citizens to disseminate good practices and recommendations, monitor progress and rally coalitions.

Onboarding the Sustainable Development Goals could also be placed on the agenda of a next Interministerial Committee for International Cooperation and Development meeting.

Every year, European Sustainable Development Week will be a time to galvanise and promote society players’ projects.
Focal point
Mr. François GAVE
Counsellor
Head of Development and Sustainable Development Department
French Mission to the United Nations
New York

National information to external website: http://www.conference-rio2012.gouv.fr/

Ms Rachel ROUCHOUSE
Permanent Mission of France to the U.N.
One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
885 Second Av. (bet. 47 & 48th Sts), 44th floor - NEW YORK 10017
Cell 1 561 307 75 10 | prof. 1 212 702 49 33
eugenie.pierre-justin@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Partnerships & Commitments
The below is a listing of all partnership initiatives and voluntary commitments where France is listed as a partner or lead entity in the Partnerships for SDGs online platform
10YFP Sustainable Food Systems Programme

The 10YFP Sustainable Food Systems Programme (SFS Programme) is a global multi-stakeholder initiative to accelerate the shift towards more sustainable food systems, all along the food value chain, from farm to fork. Among its focus themes are the promotion of sustainable diets; the reduction of food losses and waste; and strengthening resilient and diverse food production systems. The SFS Programme promotes activities that fall under these topics, in the areas of awareness raising, capacity development as well as facilitating access to knowledge, information and tools. The SFS Programme is one...[more]

Partners
Co-Lead organizations: Switzerland, South Africa, WWF, Hivos Members of the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee: Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, France, Honduras, Netherlands, United States, Biovision Foundation, IISD, IFOAM - Organics International, Global Nature Fund, German Development Institute, Hebrew University, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, ENEA, CIHEAM, FAO, UNEP, UNSCN, Barilla, Foo...[more]
Sustainable Development Goals
Building local capacity to leverage public-private partnerships for sustainable development

The International Platform on Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development focuses specifically on public-private partnerships (PPPs) which contribute to advancing sustainable development at the local level. It aims to build capacity on PPPs so that they can be leveraged as an efficient tool for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This collaborative initiative is twofold. It includes:- A physical component: regular international fora, providing training and networking opportunities. - A virtual component: a learning platform which builds capacity through ...[more]

Partners
Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations, Annemasse Agglo, Région Rhône-Alpes, Conseil Départemental de Haute-Savoie, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Sustainable Development Goals
Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

The best opportunity to slow the rate of near-term warming globally and in sensitive regions such as the Arctic is by cutting emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) – most notably methane, black carbon and some hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Widespread reductions, which complement the need for aggressive global action on carbon dioxide, contribute significantly to the goal of limiting warming to less than two degrees. Reducing SLCPs can also advance national priorities such as protecting air quality and public health, promoting food security, enhancing energy efficiency, and allevi...[more]

Partners
111 Partners, 50 State and REIO, 16 IGO and 45 NGO partners (as of April 2016). Full list: http://ccacoalition.org/en/partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Development of Fair Trade, The

After decades of implementation and maturation as well as entirely positive development over the past several years, it is now necessary to move on to the sales volume growth phase, since we know that fair trade is driven by downstream demand, i.e. that increasing the numbers of producers who benefit from this type of trade depends directly on market growth. Targeted at developing a trade structure capable of delivering higher and more stable incomes for producers, this project improves living conditions in those communities that benefit from it, contributes to strengthening the way these pr...[more]

Partners
Governments: Government of France - Agence Française de Développement Government of France - Association Française de Normalisation Government of France - Ministère des Affaires Étrangères (DGCID/DCT/EAP) Major Groups: La Plate-Forme pour le Commerce Equitable (France) Association Ingénieurs Sans Frontières (France) City of Lyon (France) City of Nantes (France) City of Rennes (F...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Ecole des Ponts ParisTech

Ecole des Ponts ParisTech is an engineer school dealing with sustainable and resilient cities eco-conception, building and management, sustainable mobility, climate change, air and water management, sectorial economics and finance.

Partners
* Ecole des Ponts ParisTech * French Ministry of Sustainable Development * ADEME * EDF * Renault * Saint Gobain * SNCF * STIF * VINCI * VEOLIA
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Energy Integration in Western Africa

In Rio, the concept of sustainable development renewed this general-interest idea. It added the environmental variable to those of economics and social concerns. The regional integration of energy systems is a factor in sustainable development and in regional political stability. This is especially true for the ECOWAS countries. In these countries, reforms in the energy sector, carried out within the framework of liberalization programmes, have ensured the autonomy of businesses and, because of this, have deprived governments of their means of supervising and directing the market. Several of ...[more]

Partners
Governments: Government of France - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Major Groups: Institut Economie et de Politique Energie (IEPE) (France) Other intergovernmental organizations: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (Nigeria)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Establishing maritime spatial plans for marine areas

Only small parts of Estonian marine areas have currently maritime spatial plans. The objective is to cover the entire Estonian marine area with maritime spatial plans. These plans will address all the main issues related to the protection and sustainable use of the sea. The preparation of plans will include research in marine areas and public consultations.

Partners
Ministry of Environment (Governmental), municipalities (Governmental)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Fisheries Conservation in the Wider Caribbean Region through FAO's Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission (WECAFC)

The general objective of the Commission is to promote the effective conservation, management and development of the living marine resources of the area of competence of the Commission, in accordance with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and address common problems of fisheries management and development faced by members of the Commission. 16 of WECAFC's 35 members are considered small island developing States.

Partners
Member governments: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, France, European Community, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United S...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
France decided to contribute financially to UNEP activities under the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML), for the 2017- 2020 period.

The commitment aims to reinforce the coalition The coalition brings together local and national governments. It aims at promoting the reduction of plastic waste pollution of the oceans and in particular the elimination of single-use plastic bags in all countries. The members of the coalition take the commitment to promote, in particular, elimination of these plastic bags in a consistent manner with existing international instruments and policies, and to share experience gained by States that already take action on this matter. The coalition also aims at: - coordinating and strength...[more]

Partners
Initially proposed by France, together with Monaco and Morocco, during the "Our Ocean" conference in September 2016 in Washington, the coalition quickly raised interest among several countries. Then, the initiative was formally launched during COP 22 in Marrakesh on November 14, 2016. During this event, all countries have been invited to formally join the declaration of intent of the coalition (at...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
France commits to increase of its contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria over the period 2011-2013

2010: France announced 500 million euros for the period 2011-2015 to support the Muskoka initiative. Furthermore, France announces this week an increase by 20 % of its contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria over the period 2011-2013 (1.080 billion euros as compared to 900 million euros for the previous triennium).

Partners
Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
France joins the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME+) Project

France hosted the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Cartagena Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region from 13 to 17 March 2017 in Cayenne, French Guiana. To further stimulate the work of the Convention, and enhance regional coordinated action towards the protection of unique marine systems of the Wider Caribbean region, France recently joined the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME+) Project which assists participating countries from two large marine ecosystems (theCaribbean Large Marine Ecosystem and the North Brazil She...[more]

Partners
Other partners of the CLME+ projet in the Caribbean
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
French Initiative for Coral Reefs (IFRECOR): Plan of actions 2016-2020

Objectives: IFRECOR's vocation is to promote the protection and sustainable management of coral reefs and their associated ecosystems, seagrasses and mangroves that are of major importance in the 9 concerned overseas territories. Organisation: the governance and the facilitation of the initiative are based on a national committee and a network of 9 overseas local committees, which meet every year to review the progress of the actions ; its action relies on a 5-years working programs defined at both local and national scales. It is followed by a secretariat (ministries in charge of ecology a...[more]

Partners
Initiated in March 1999 under the Prime Minister’s decision, IFRECOR is placed under the co-presidency of the ministers in charge of ecology and overseas territories, respectively. Its innovative governance is built on the objective to gather all the overseas reef territories and actors concerned by reef ecosystems, nationally and locally. It has the support of a national committee and a networ...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism

The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism is an organizational network of tourism stakeholders of the public and private sectors, non-profits, UN agencies and programmes, international organizations and academic institutions. Partner organizations share the common vision and understanding of the goal of "sustainable tourism" and collaborate internationally, regionally or nationally to transform tourism globally. The mission is to transform the way tourism is done worldwide by building partnerships to support the implementation of sustainable tourism practices at destinations through adop...[more]

Partners
United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP), Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia, the Government of France, Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Morocco, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, the Travel Foundation, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Grenelle Environment Roundtable

France initiated the ecological transition of its economy from 2007 through the adoption of the "Grenelle Environment Roundtable" commitments, deployed in 2010 in a new National strategy of sustainable development towards a green and equitable economy". Source: France initiated the ecological transition of its economy from 2007 through the adoption of the "Grenelle Environment Roundtable" commitments, deployed in 2010 in a new "National strategy of sustainable development towards a green and equitable economy". The aim of the Environment Round Table, instigated by the President of France, Ni...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Grenelle II Law

Published on 12 July 2010, the Grenelle II Law presents concrete actions needed to reach the defined 2020 targets in six main sectors: buildings and urbanisation, transport, energy and climate, biodiversity, health and governance. Source:

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
IHO Hydrography Capacity Building Programme for Coastal States

The IHO capacity building programme seeks to assess and advise on how countries can best meet their international obligations and serve their own best interests by providing appropriate hydrographic and nautical charting services. Such services directly support safety of navigation, safety of life at sea, efficient sea transportation and the wider use of the seas and oceans in a sustainable way, including the protection of the marine environment, coastal zone management, fishing, marine resource exploration and exploitation, maritime boundary delimitation, maritime defence and security, and o...[more]

Partners
International Hydrographic Organization (IGO); 87 IHO Member States (Governments); International Maritime Organization (UN); World Meteorological Organization (UN); International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (NGO)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Implement the management of 22% of the French EEZ already classified as Marine Protected Areas and enlarge this network with the extension of the French Southern Lands marine reserve (TAAF overseas Territory) in order to reach 32% of French waters under n

Implement the management of 22 % of the French EEZ already classified as Marine Protected Areas and enlarge this network with the extension of the French Southern Lands marine reserve (TAAF overseas Territory) in order to reach 32 % of French waters under national juridiction classified as MPAs. France aims to pursue this objective with the involvement of all stakeholders, both from public and private sectors.

Partners
Ministery for the Ecological and Solidary Transition French Agency for Biodiversity Administration of French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) Multiple stakeholders from Academia, NGOs and private sectors
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Integrated approach to management of the demand for electricity and urban and industrial development

The proposed initiative aims to inform and make managers and businesses in Industrial Zones in Morocco, the Maghreb and developing countries aware of the potential and method of action for modernization tested on the Sidi Bernoussi case. The project aims to facilitate improvement of energy usage and competitiveness of industrial zones, based on an organization that represents the interests of local operators.The specific aim is to successfully implement the pilot phase and its extension throughout Morocco from the sub-region.

Partners
Governments: Government of France - Foreign Affairs Ministry International Cooperation and Development (DGCID) Government of France - Agency for Envt and Energy Management (ADEME) Major Groups: IED (engineering and consultancy firm) (France) Sidi Bernoussi Zenata industrial zone (IZDIHAR) (Morocco)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Lighthouses Initiative

IRENA has developed the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative to support the strategic deployment of renewable energy in SIDS, to bring clarity to policy makers regarding the required steps, and to enable targeted action. As a joint effort of SIDS and development partners, this framework for action will assist in transforming SIDS energy systems through the establishment of the enabling conditions for a renewable energy-based future, by moving away from developing projects in isolation to a holistic approach that considers all relevant elements spanning from policy and market frameworks, through technol...[more]

Partners
Antigua and Barbuda, Mauritius, Bahamas, Nauru, Barbados, Palau, Cabo Verde, Samoa, Comoros, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cook Islands, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Fiji, Seychelles, Grenada, Solomon Islands, Guyana, Tonga, Kiribati, Trinidad and Tobago, Maldives, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Federated States of Micronesia, ENEL, New Zealand, European Union, Norway, France, SE4ALL, Germany, ...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership

The Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership is a first-of-its-kind, multi-stakeholder partnership of Governments, Private Sectors, NGOs and CSOs.LEAP guiding principles include: global, inclusive, consensus, transparency, scientific, comprehensive, continuous improvement and adoption. Objective: To build global consensus on science-based methodology, indicators and databases for understanding the environmental performance of livestock supply chains in order to shape evidence-based policy measures and business strategies. Vision: To support the transition towards m...[more]

Partners
Countries: France, The Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, Italy, Nigeria. Private sector: International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF); European Vegetable Oil and Proteinmeal Industry (FEDIOL); International Meat Secretariat (IMS); International Egg Commission (IEC); International Poultry Council (IPC); International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH); International Dairy Federation...[more]
Sustainable Development Goals
Mechanism for the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in developing countries

The main objectives of this initiative are the reduction of poverty by providing access to energy services, especially to rural populations, and the fight against climate change by controlling the growth of energy consumption and by increasing the share of energy from renewable resources in the energy mix of the developing countries. The initiative falls within the scope of reinforcing technical and institutional cooperation efforts to facilitate the structuring of national energy policies and the setting-up of the necessary structures for the proper design and realization of projects. In part...[more]

Partners
Governments: Government of France - Agence Française pour le Développement (AFD) Government of France - Agency for the Envt & Energy Efficiency (ADEME) Government of France - External Economic Relations Directorate (DREE) Government of France - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) Other: Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial (FFEM) (France) PROPARCO, French Global Environment Fund (...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Network for Therapeutic Solidarity in Hospitals (ESTHER - Ensemble pour une Solidarité Thérapeutique Hospitalière en Réseau)

To improve access to quality treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS in developing countries, by increasing the means of access to care and treatment and a complete health care offer combining social and community aspects over a three-year cycle. The aim is to identify the health care facilities in developing countries, which, with the help of twinning with a European hospital facility, can reinforce their expertise and equipment. These facilities are becoming the focal points for networks including medical and biological monitoring services, associations and NGOs, representing the civ...[more]

Partners
Governments: Government of France - Ensemble Solidarité Thérapeutique Hosp. Réseau Government of France Government of Italy Government of Luxembourg Government of Spain UN System: UNAIDS () WHO ()
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Oceania 21

Noumea Communique2nd Oceania 21 ConferenceNoumea, 2 July 20141. The 2nd Oceania 21 Conference (Oceania 21), organised by the New Caledonian Government, with the support of France, and was chaired in turn by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Vanuatu, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu and the President of the Marshall Islands, currently Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Partners
New Caledonia, France, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Nauru, Niue, Palau,Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, SPREP, Prince Albert II of Monaco, the French Research for Development Institute (IRD) and Green Cross and Ocean Futures Soc...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Promoting maritime spatial planning to achieve good environment status of oceans and seas.

France commits herself to adopt by 2021, on an ecosystem-based approach, maritime spatial planning plans aiming to promote a sustainable coexistence of uses in the maritime space and to achieve good environmental status of oceans and seas that are clean, healthy and productive. The high and rapidly increasing demand for maritime space for different purposes, such as installations for the production of energy from renewable sources, oil and gas exploration and exploitation, maritime shipping and fishing activities, ecosystem and biodiversity conservation, the extraction of raw materials, tou...[more]

Partners
At European level: the Commission for the regulation framework (the Marine strategy framework directive and the Maritime spatial planning framework directive), the neighbouring EU member states for planning cooperation and coordination. At national level: technical work by public bodies (government services, public agencies AFB, Cerema and IFREMER); association of stakeholders and local autho...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Proposal to prohibit the use of large scale driftnets in the area of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

Large-scale driftnets fishing nets began to be used in the late 1970s and 1980s. These large-scale driftnets resulted in significantly increased amount of incidental mortality of protected species including, in particular, cetaceans, sea turtles and sharks. This led to international concerns about the environment impacts of this fishing method. The IOTC Scientific Committee has noted in the report of its 19th session of December 2016 that gillnets are regularly being used with lengths between 4 and 7km. These gillnets may drift sometimes into the high seas in contravention of Resolution 12/...[more]

Partners
France, European Union. Other contracting parties to the IOTC are invited to support the commitment in order to have it adopted by the regular session of 22-26 May 2017 and implemented before 1st January 2019
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Research program on acidification

In Septembre 2016, France joined the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification. Consequently, France has decided a financial support (€ 800 000 Euros) for eight research projects about the main knowledge gaps on ocean acidification (monitoring, mapping and modelisation, study of the biological impacts coral reefs, phytoplancton, molluscs, fishes ...) In kind participation by the research labs Expected results in 2020

Partners
FRB (Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Biodiversite) French and Monegasque laboratories
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Reward-Penalty Scheme for Personal Cars

In 2007 France introduced the Reward-Penalty scheme for personal cars. The average CO2 emissions of new vehicles registered in France has decreased from 149 g CO2/km in late 2007 to 130 g CO2/km in the first half of 2010. Source: World Resources Institute (2011) A Compilation of Green Economy Policies, Programs, and Initiatives from Around the World. The Green Economy in Practice: Interactive Workshop 1, February 11th, 2011 France introduced the Bonus-Malus (reward-penalty) system for personal cars in 2007 to remove older polluting vehicles from the road and encourage manufacturers to develop...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
SIRMA: Water economy in Irrigated Systems in North Africa

The irrigated agriculture sector is the primary water consumer in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia). These countries have mobilized most of their resources and should now continue to improve management of demand to guarantee the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of the sector. National agricultural water economy strategies have been defined. The aim is that these measures be implemented by local bodies (from the perimeter manager to the agricultural water user) in spite of the difficulties associated with the major technical, social and economic constraints involved. Th...[more]

Partners
Governments: Government of France - General Directorate for International Cooperation and Development Government of France - Nat'l Cttee -Intn'l Comm. on Irrigation & Drainage Government of France - PCSI: Common Irrigated Systems Program Government of Morocco - Ministry of Agriculture -SEEN Government of Tunisia - CRDA: Reg. Commission on Agricultural Development Government of Tunisia - DGGR...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Support by France to the WACA Program in monitoring the coastal erosion in West Africa

In 2015, the World Bank launched the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme (WACA), a convening platform that helps countries access expertise and finance to sustainably manage their coastal areas. The French Ministry of the Ecological and Solidary Transition is a partner of the WACA Program. The collaborative project with France aims to provide data from marine charts, bathymetric surveys and aerial photographs, gathered over several decades, to three countries of West Africa (Benin, Senegal, Togo). Such information is crucial for monitoring changes to the coastal environment in th...[more]

Partners
4 French public agencies: Marine Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) National Institute of Geographic and Forestry Information (IGN) Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) Center for Studies and Expertise on Risks, Environment, Mobility and Development (CEREMA) and: Ecological Monitoring Center, based in Dakar
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI)

SOI will provide a global platform to build partnerships and enhance capacity to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets related to marine and coastal biodiversity in a holistic manner. This will contribute to the capacity development of SIDS from national to subnational level, and through thematic and regional cooperation initiatives) to sustainably manage their ocean and coastal biodiversity and benefit from the many environmental, social, and economic services provided by healthy marine ecosystems.

Partners
Since its inception, necessary financial resources for the implementation of SOI have been provided by Japan (through Japan Biodiversity Fund) and France (through French marine protected areas agency); in-kind contribution by Senegal, Republic of Korea, China through hosting the workshops/meetings; technical support provided by Australia (through Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Org...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable tourism for sustainable development in emerging countries

The project's purpose is to use experiments currently being carried out in various countries in order to analyze the conditions conducive to developing forms of tourism in line with the stated sustainability criteria, and to suggest methodologies for implementing these new approaches as well as for their follow-up and evaluation. This will involve transforming experimentation into development programmes for emerging countries and offering validated methodological tools to national authorities. The first phase will consist of identifying experiments in progress, selecting the "best practices,...[more]

Partners
Governments: Government of Burkina Faso - Regional Agency for Support and Consulting on Tourism and Development (ARTODEV) Government of France - Agency for Tourist Engineering (AFIT) Government of France - Dept of Devt and Technical Cooperation (DCT) Government of France - Dept of Tourism, Mission for Internat. Affairs Government of France - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGCID) Government of ...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
The DURAS Project: Promoting Sustainable Development in Southern Agricultural Research Systems

The Southern National Agricultural Research Systems (SNRAs) have recently gained a forum in which to discuss and express their needs at world level. Within the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), they can meet their Northern partners as well as representatives of international centres. Together, they have determined that issues addressing biodiversity, ecosystem management and sustainable development (SD) must now be included in their mission. GFAR is designed to encourage an upward structure of research systems: national, sub-regional, regional and global. These various levels also...[more]

Partners
Governments: Government of France - Agropolis Government of France - Centre national d'études agronomiques (CNEARC) Government of France - French Agric. Research Ctr for Int¿l Dev (CIRAD) Major Groups: Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) (Italy) French Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) (France) Inst. Nat'l Agronomique Paris-Grignon (INA/PG) (France) Inst. de recherche...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
The European Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities

The European Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities (RFSC) is an open, non-binding, on-line toolkit to assist actors of urban management and development to improve dialogue and action on sustainability at local level. Source: UNCSD Secretariat (2010) Questionnaire for the Member States on Experiences, Success Factors, Risks and Challenges with Regard to Objective and Themes of UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) "The European Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities" offers a multi-purpose decision-making and communication tool for promoting sustainable urban development. ...[more]

Partners
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
The ICRI plan of Action 2016-2018

ICRI is is a partnership among governments, international organizations, and non-government organizations. Governance arrangements are set out in organization and management procedures, which identify roles of the General Meeting as a governing body and the Secretariat, which is hosted by countries on a rotating basis; criteria for membership; and implementation of activities through operational networks and ad hoc committees. An ambitious plan of action 2016-2018 proposed by France was adopted by the ICRI membership in November 2016. It comprises 5 themes: 1. Raising awareness on the i...[more]

Partners
ICRI Members include a mix of governments, non-governmental organisations and international organisations.Today, ICRI counts more than 60 members. The full list is available at http://www.icriforum.org/members/icri-members
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Université Internationale du développement Durable (UMDD)

This initiative seeks to produce training modules from the results of research projects; to create skill centers as support structures for research, trails and training in local sustainable development practices; to create a knowledge base making use of all sources of information on sustainable development practices; to implement e-learning courses; and to make the information and skills required for sustainable development practices available and readily comprehensible to everyone. * Making available in a way that is easily understandable by everyone (businesses, local authorities, associati...[more]

Partners
Governments: Government of France - Ministry for Foreign Affairs (DGCID)ONG Government of Hungary - Academy of Science of Hungary Major Groups: City of Lyon (France) City of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) Town of Lyon and Grand Lyon (France) World Council of Hungarian Professors (Hungary) National Council Environmental Industry of Mexico (Mexico) City of Grenada (Spain) UN System: Unite...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Western Indian Ocean Coastal Challenge (WIOCC)

The WIOCC is a country led partnership that promotes actions for climate resilient development that achieves effective conservation of biodiversity, enhanced livelihood and economies for greater social security among coastal communities. The WIOCC mobilises the political, financial and technical commitment at national and regional levels by inspiring leadership and facilitating collaboration towards a shared, long-term vision.

Partners
Comoros, France-Réunion, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania and Zanzibar; European Union; Indian Ocean Commission (IOC); UNEP Nairobi Convention Secretariat; Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity; Global Island Partnership (GLISPA); Western Indian Ocean Consortium (WIO-C) including the WCS, IUCN, WWF, WIOMSA, CORDIO, IOC-Indian Ocean Commission, NEPAD a...[more]
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Working towards improvements in African business law: information and training on the new OHADA law applying to companies exporting to Africa or looking to invest there, and to businesses based in Africa

All the analyses conducted by the CFCE and its clients confirm the importance of modern, stable, predictable and transparent business law in strengthening the inflow of foreign and domestic investment (required to support jobs, management and technology), promoting business growth and ensuring fair regulation of the local impact of the resulting benefits. We also know that sound legal governance exerts an influence on all the structures of national power. The Africa Circle was set up in January this year with 20 or so members, including specialist lawyers and representatives of UNIDA (Associ...[more]

Partners
Governments: Government of France - Centre Français du Commerce Extérieur (CFCE) Major Groups: ARPEJE (France) Africa Circle of the CFCE (France) Assoc. for Unification of Law in Africa (UNIDA) (France) International Development Law Institute (Italy)
Action Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Statements
6 Jun 2017
20 Jun 2012
20 Jun 2012
13 May 2011
13 May 2010
7 May 2010
6 May 2010
5 May 2010
5 May 2010
4 May 2010
13 May 2008
12 May 2008
12 May 2008
9 May 2008
9 May 2008
8 May 2008
7 May 2008
5 May 2008
11 May 2006
9 May 2006
5 May 2006
4 May 2006
3 May 2006
21 Apr 2005
13 Apr 2005
12 Apr 2005
29 Apr 2004
2 Sep 2002
United Nations