France has become first country to ban the production of oil and gas within the country and its overseas territories by 2024.
Notably oil and gas produced in France is just 1% of domestic consumption and the rest is imported.
Why?
The decision is taken to influence French economy from fossil fuels and also France strictly wants to fulfil its commitments unde the Paris Climate Agreement that aims at curbing global warming.Plans of France
In July 2017, France’s Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot announced France’s five-year plan to ban all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 as part of the Paris Agreement. France also planned to no longer use coal to produce electricity after 2022 and that up to €4 billion will be invested in boosting energy efficiencyConsequences
As a result of the new law, the permits of the existing drilling will not be renewed and no new exploration licenses will be granted.Impact on other nations
The ban will affect companies prospecting for oil in the French territory of Guyana in South America, while also banning the extraction of shale gas by any means -- its extraction by fracking was banned in 2011.What does President say?
France should take the lead as a major world economy switching away from fossil fuels -- and the nuclear industry -- into renewable sources. My government plans to stop the sale of diesel and petrol engine cars by 2040 as well.
What is Paris Climate Agreement?
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) signed an agreement to deal with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020. It is the world's first comprehensive climate agreement. During 21st Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC in Paris, the language of the agreement was negotiated by 196 members of UNFCCC.
After US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the agreement in 2017, the number of members decreased to 195
Aim of the agreement
The agreement is primarily concered about the threats of global warming and keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The aim of the convention is described in Article 2, "enhancing the implementation" of the UNFCCC through:
(a) Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change;
(b) Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production;
(c) Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development."
Nationally Determined Contributions
In the agreement, it is mentioned that each individual country should make a contribution in order to achieve the worldwide goal are determined by all countries individually and called "nationally determined contributions" (NDCs).
There will be no mechanism to force a country to set a target in their NDC by a specific date and no enforcement if a set target in an NDC is not met
Expected Questions
Which country has become the first country to ban oil and gas production by 2024?
a. France
b. Russia
c. USA
d. Canada
In which year was Paris Climate Agreement signed?
a. 2013
b. 2010
c. 2015
d. 2009
Which country has withdrawn from Paris Climate Agreement ?
a. China
b. US
c. India
d. Russia
Paris Agreement is signed within the members of
a. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
b. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil,
c. International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage
d. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
