France country profile - SDGs and the environment

Acknowledging that further work remains to be done, especially in terms of maintaining healthy ecosystems and the sustainable management of natural resources, France will increase the funding for the French Development Agency (AFD) for sustainable development by EUR 4 billion by 2020, EUR 2 billion of which will be dedicated to climate change mitigation and adaptation (UN DESA, 2016).

France`s action towards SDGs with an environmental dimension focuses primarily on SDGs 3, 7, 11, 13, 14 and 15.  

France launched SDG action by designating an Interministerial Representative for Sustainable Development and General Commissioner for Sustainable Development, who led the preparation of the country’s first report on the SDGs. Subsequently, a national action plan was developed, underpinned by the following elements: a shared vision; government measures and public policy guidelines for sustainable development; assistance to economic players; and citizens’ ownership of the SDGs (Republic of France, 2016).

France engaged stakeholders through an online public consultation on its national action plan to ensure citizen involvement. The country also set up a committee of international experts to act as a knowledge source for developing the plan (Republic of France, 2016).

France submitted a VNR to the UN in 2016.

The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) is responsible for the production and coordination of data with the statistical departments of the various French ministries. To produce national SDG indicators, the INSEE conducted a feasibility study involving all relevant ministries. The resulting list of 109 national SDG indicators was published in March 2017. The National Reform Programme, which reflects the goals of the 2030 Agenda (¹) is consistent with these indicators (INSEE, 2017). The process involves a government assessment report to be submitted to the parliament each October (Republic of France, 2016).