France’s new environmental minister and eco-celebrity, Nicolas Hulot, has announced a ban on future licenses for oil and gas exploration. However, the restrictions will not affect the country’s 64 active oil and gas fields that cover roughly 4,000 square kilometers.
“There will be no new exploration licenses for hydrocarbons, we will pass the law this autumn,” Mr Hulot told local news channel BFMTV.
The announcement follows President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to position France as a leader in environmental technology following the recent U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change. The new government has already pledged to reduce the country’s nuclear energy dependence from 75% to 50% by 2025 in favor of more renewable sources.
A recent visit by Arnold Schwarzenegger to discuss climate change has helped to lend a touch of star power to the new initiative. Now the real question becomes, “Where can I get one of those shirts?”
‘Beaches of Biarritz, France’ Photo Credit: Tricia A. Mitchell
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