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Green mayors and 5G, what's the problem?

2020-07-02T20:52:54.684Z


Several new environmental mayors are calling, at a minimum, to delay the deployment of 5G in France. If today there is no


Now at the head of big cities, will the ecologists stop the deployment of 5G there? For months, the latter have been multiplying the warnings against this mobile technology, whose deployment is planned for the end of the year.

5G is supposed to guarantee the general public much faster and smoother Internet browsing, and offer professionals more tools (telemedicine, autonomous shuttles, remote control of vehicles, etc.). However, it raises concerns about its possible effects on health, the environment or the protection of personal data.

In Bordeaux, Besançon, Poitiers or Nantes (where the socialist mayor allied with environmentalists during the interval between the two towers), in particular, the new mayors elected this Sunday, June 28, spoke openly during the campaign or evoked it in their program. Chance of the calendar, the Senate organizes this Wednesday morning a round table devoted to the “health and environmental impacts of 5G”. We take stock.

What are these new green mayors of 5G saying?

They are, at a minimum, very cautious and call for delaying the deployment. In Bordeaux, Pierre Hurmic has already promised to initiate a moratorium and a “real debate” on 5G. "I find it totally unacceptable that it can be imposed without explaining, without discussing, without seeing what the aspirations of the inhabitants are," he said on RTL the day after his election. His city is one of those where 5G is being tested - the full list is available on the website of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications, Posts and Press Distribution (Arcep).

Léonore Moncond'huy, new mayor of Poitiers, is also in favor of a "moratorium". But she does not promise it in her commune, a mayor not having the power (see below). “There are many reasons to oppose 5G, but the main one is the catastrophic impact in terms of energy consumption. We could also be content with what we have, 4G works very well, ”she says, joined by Le Parisien. On March 10, as New Aquitaine regional councilor, she deemed it necessary to "ask the question of social utility, of the environmental relevance of a new technology".

The new mayor of Besançon, Anne Vignot, did a lot of talking with a tweet posted on June 19. “5G poses public health problems. Be careful not to run after technologies that would bring us into the wall, "she had transcribed, without further specifying her point while some accused her of panicking without proof.

5G poses public health problems. Be careful not to run after technologies that would bring us into the wall. # Besançon2020 @bleubesancon

- Anne Vignot (@vignotan) June 19, 2020

Contacted by Le Parisien on Tuesday, she said that she rather wanted to write "problems in the field of public health", more generally. "With 5G, you are exposing a population to a technology whose effects are not yet well known," added the one who said he wanted to respect the "precautionary principle" pending the final opinion of the National Agency for food safety, environment and work safety (ANSES) on the impact of this technology, expected in the first quarter of 2021 (see below).

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In Nantes, environmentalists obtained from the socialist mayor Johanna Rolland, in exchange for their rallying between the two towers, a moratorium on 5G. This will be maintained "for the duration of the debate" which will be organized to establish whether the deployment of this technology is appropriate. In Grenoble, the ecological mayor Eric Piolle, re-elected Sunday, is also very reserved on this technology.

What do we know about the possible health risks of 5G?

Difficult to know for the moment. In January, ANSES alerted, in a much awaited preliminary report on this issue, to the "significant" or even "lack of scientific data on the potential biological and health effects linked to frequencies around 3.5 GHz (used for 5G, note) ". It asked the manufacturers involved for information, "in order to best estimate the exposure scenarios and anticipate the possible risks for the populations", before submitting its final report in 2021.

On the other hand, we have known since 2016, and this still thanks to ANSES, that the electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones, touch pads or connected toys can have effects on the cognitive functions - memory, attention, coordination - of children. .

VIDEO. Telephony: 5G is for 2020

Several associations as well as the Citizen Climate Convention have been calling for months, too, a moratorium on this issue. They fear that with this technology, antennas will multiply and emit powerful radiation. The latter would be responsible, according to them, for real and significant health risks such as insomnia, reduced fertility or even cancer. Accused of being energy-intensive, 5G also poses risks to biodiversity, some believe. Industrialists, they argue that 5G is a much more energy efficient technology than 4G. The only certainty: the standards for mobiles will be the same as for 4G.

According to the new president of the French Telecoms Federation, Nicolas Guérin, "WHO has already assured that emissions are no different than current 4G and that there will therefore be no health problems".

Faced with this vagueness, the government has decided to launch an inter-service study mission, with the General Inspection of Health Affairs (IGAS), the General Business Council (CGE) and General Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development ( CGEDD). They will have to deliver their conclusions in early September.

What are the government's intentions?

Officially, the authorities are still planning to roll out 5G by the end of the year. The auctions to allocate the 11 frequency blocks still available must also take place from September 20 to 30. "Yes, we are going to launch the 5G auction," insisted Secretary of State for the Economy Agnès Pannier-Runacher at the National Assembly on Tuesday, closing the door to any moratorium.

The government hopes to be able to count on the report of the three bodies commissioned this week in order to remove doubts, without upsetting the calendar.

Some ministers, however, would like to take more of their time. Elisabeth Borne and Olivier Véran, in charge of Ecological Transition and Health respectively, wrote to Edouard Philippe asking him "to wait for the evaluation of ANSES before the deployment of 5G", indicated the first in the JDD June 21. By the end of the first quarter of 2021, therefore.

Can a mayor oppose the arrival of 5G on the territory?

Not really. In 2011, when three town halls had decided to regulate the establishment of mobile phone antennas on their territory, the Council of State had taken up the subject. And his conclusion was clear: "A mayor cannot regulate by decree the installation of relay antennas, on the basis of his general police power". In other words, a city councilor does not have this legal or administrative power.

However, an elected official can multiply administrative appeals. If he has a very good chance of not succeeding, that delays the process. In addition, if they are several at the head of big cities in this case, the environmental mayors can also put pressure and hope to make fold the government. In Poitiers, Léonore Moncond'huy plans to put the subject on the agenda of a forthcoming municipal council. "What matters is to open the public debate on this subject," she said. "I don't yet know exactly how I'm going to act, but I will be very active," promises Anne Vignot.

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2020-07-02

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