Public consultations for the future French Energy and Climate Strategy (FR0056)

What is the public problem that the commitment will address? Civil society and citizens are paying increasing attention to climate policy. Citizens’ consumption and lifestyle choices (housing, transportation, food, etc.) play a large role in how much we are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In order for France to achieve its climate targets, we need buy-in and engagement from civil society and citizens.

What is the commitment? Following on from the Citizens’ Climate Convention, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition is committing to directly involve citizens in designing the future French Energy and Climate Strategy (SFEC). This strategy includes:  the National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC)  the Multiannual Energy Plan (PPE)  the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (PNACC) The strategy’s main areas of focus will be set by a planning act on energy and climate to be adopted in the summer of 2023. The SNBC and PPE will be adopted in the summer of 2024. The Ministry will involve citizens in every phase of the strategy’s design: - A preliminary public consultation overseen by a sponsor will be held from November 2021 to February 2022. The goal is to involve citizens in 24 identifying the strategy’s main areas of focus and parameters. A platform will be made available for people to make contributions. It will include an array of resources and information on the climate and energy transitions. Participants will be invited to answer a series of questions and provide comments on 12 pre-selected topics. Institutional and business stakeholders can also comment on these topics by making a written submission. The exercise will be overseen by Isabelle Jarry, a sponsor from the Ministry who is on the national list of sponsors established by the French National Public Debates Commission (CNDP). - After finalising the initial outline of the SFEC and before the associated bill is introduced in the autumn of 2022, the Ministry will organise a civic participation exercise before the bill is finalised. - In the autumn of 2023, the Ministry will hold another public consultation on the strategy, overseen by the CNDP, to transform the main objectives and measures of the planning act into detailed measures for the SNBC and the PPE. - In the spring of 2024, the Ministry will hold a public consultation on the projects under the SNBC and the PPE.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem? This commitment will help to:  better understand citizens’ expectations  examine some of the implications of the strategy in terms of lifestyle choices and social acceptability  raise civic awareness about public policy  make technical subject matter more accessible to citizens and gain their buy-in and trust Ultimately, this commitment will help improve the legitimacy and visibility of the strategy’s choices and trajectories. In the short term but particularly the long term, this commitment has the potential to influence 25 citizens’ consumption and lifestyle choices in support of the low-carbon transition.

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? This commitment is fully relevant to OGP values.  It greatly improves the transparency of the process, with information being shared throughout the strategy design phase  It allows for citizens to express their expectations, share their opinions and contribute to the strategy’s assumptions and trajectories

Action Plan Review

Commitment 6. Working together to deliver the green and climate transition!

● Verifiable: Yes

● Does it have an open government lens? Yes

● Potential for results: Unclear