The Covid-19 crisis did not dampen the concern of the French people about global warming. This is what emerges from a study carried out by the BVA institute for Greenpeace France that we are revealing (Editor's note: BVA survey carried out on the Internet from May 27 to June 1, 2020 with a sample of 1,003 respondents representative of the French population and aged 18 and over) . " It's quite the opposite. One has the impression that confinement in particular has changed our thinking patterns. Very ambitious measures, reserved for a few radical ecologists before the crisis are now popular with the French population, ”enthuses Jean-François Julliard, the director of the NGO.
88% of those polled want politicians to force companies to emit less greenhouse gases. "A small political bomb, if this proposal were applied, the economy would be overturned," notes political scientist Eddy Fougier. Imposing binding climate targets, which the states meeting in COP have never succeeded, the French would like to see it applied to businesses.
In addition, 81% refuse to grant state aid to polluting companies without binding ecological compensation. As many demand substantial investments to promote renewable energies. The French, on the other hand, seem reluctant to cut aid for the purchase of SUVs, very heavy and energy-consuming vehicles, real bones of environmental NGOs. Only 48% say they are in favor.
Young people convinced, right and left
"If we look in detail what the different studies teach us, it is that climate claims are first brought by young people and CSP +", refines Eddy Fougier.
In this context, the renewal of generations risks changing the situation: “The French born after 1980, already active, and even more after 1995 are in their immense majority kneaded by climate emergency. In these generations, this conviction is shared in the spheres of left and right, "said the political scientist who points to the risk of a growing hiatus.
The economic crisis could create tensions between those for whom the clock is ticking and who claim that the climate emergency replaces the health emergency and those whose first priority is to avoid decommissioning.
"This period is a historic opportunity"
For now, the French seem to have widely perceived the spread of the coronavirus as a warning signal from our planet. However, Greenpeace activists point out, the government has taken the “opposite direction”.
“23 billion euros have been released in support of the automotive and aeronautical sectors, without jeopardizing their development model. No serious reduction in air traffic, no limitation on the number of cars on the roads, nor any measure to support the rail sector, an essential alternative to be developed, have been announced, enumerates Jean-François Julliard. Of course, we would have liked the leaders to hear the French from the time of deconfinement. But we can hope that the government will give money back to renewables. This period is a historic opportunity ”.
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He hopes that energy renovation or offshore wind will not be forgotten during the next amendment to the finance law.