"Wir treten in eine Gefahrenzone ein", warnt der Hohe Rat für das Klima

The French government has been warned by its independent climate advisory body, the High Council for Climate (HCC), that the country is not yet prepared to deal with the dangerous consequences of climate change. In its eighth annual report, released on July 9, the HCC emphasized that current climate policies remain insufficient, both in terms of decarbonization and adaptation measures. The council stressed the urgent need for a significant scaling up of action to address the increasingly severe impacts of global warming, which have become more frequent and intense due to human activities.

Recent heatwaves, repeated throughout the year, have highlighted how the effects of climate change are becoming more hazardous. According to the HCC, these extreme weather events demonstrate that the impacts of climate change are growing more dangerous, and France is currently unprepared to manage them effectively. The report underscores that infrastructure, land planning, ecosystems, economic activities, and social practices were developed under a climate that no longer exists. This mismatch between past assumptions and present realities poses serious risks to public safety and environmental stability.

The HCC called for immediate and substantial changes in the scale, scope, and speed of adaptation efforts. It argued that the current level of response is inadequate and that the pace of emissions reductions must accelerate significantly. For example, while greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.1 percent in 2025, this rate is still too slow to meet the goals set by the 2015 Paris Agreement. Experts warn that the probability of limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius remains low, and achieving even this target would require drastic and rapid reductions in emissions over the coming years.

In particular, the HCC noted that the current trajectory will not allow France to fulfill its commitments to reduce carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve this, the country must rapidly phase out fossil fuels and take full responsibility for reducing its contribution to global warming. However, the council also pointed out that existing policies are not sufficient to meet these challenges. It criticized the lack of adequate funding for necessary adaptation measures, especially in sectors such as agriculture and water management.

The HCC’s report highlights several critical areas where policy gaps exist. These include the artificialization of soils, the proposed agricultural emergency law, and the overall weakening of climate policies. The council argues that these issues undermine the effectiveness of adaptation strategies and hinder progress toward sustainability goals. Additionally, it warns that current adaptation efforts often focus on incremental and technological solutions that address specific problems without addressing broader systemic risks. This approach, according to the report, can lead to recurring and systematic failures in adapting to the changing climate.

Among the 82 recommendations outlined in the report, the HCC urges the government to respond within six months. These include strengthening financial support for adaptation initiatives, improving coordination between different levels of governance, and ensuring that all sectors—particularly energy, agriculture, and urban planning—are aligned with climate resilience targets. The council also calls for greater transparency and accountability in implementing climate policies, emphasizing that the stakes are high and the time for action is limited.

As the frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters continue to rise, the pressure on the French government to adopt more ambitious and effective climate policies grows stronger. With recent heatwaves causing widespread disruption and increasing health risks, the urgency for comprehensive reform has never been clearer. The HCC’s findings serve as a stark reminder that without significant and sustained effort, France may struggle to protect its citizens and maintain ecological balance in the years ahead.