Global, Regional, and National CO₂ Emissions

FRANCE

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Trends

The fossil-fuel CO₂ emissions history of France is striking in that emissions have declined since 1979. France's emissions since 1979 reflect modest decline in petroleum use and marked decline in coal use. Fossil-fuel CO₂ emissions in 1950 were 82% from coal. By 2004, only 15.1% of emissions were from coal consumption. Carbon dioxide emissions from petroleum products have declined almost 30% since 1979 but still account for 57.5% of France's 2004 fossil-fuel CO₂ emissions. France continues to increase use of natural gas. In 2004, CO₂ emissions from natural gas consumption reached 25 million metric tons of carbon or 24.6% of France's total emissions. France made a major commitment to nuclear power, and nuclear power generation grew rapidly from ca. 1975 until it contributed 76% of total electricity generation in 1987. France is a net exporter of electricity. Extensive use of nuclear power has clearly curtailed fossil fuel-related CO₂ emissions from France. Per capita emissions have declined steadily since the 1970s.