French group urges energy alternatives, taxes

Doris Leblond
OGJ Correspondent

PARIS, Apr. 24 -- The Paris Chamber of Industry and Trade has received a report it commissioned on energy strategy from Christian Balmes, president of the oil industry trade group Union Française des Industries Pétrolières (UFIP) and president of Shell France.

Balmes said France faces a "threefold energy discontinuity," namely growing energy dependence, insufficient energy efficiency, and carbon externalization. He made five propositions to deal with them:

-- "Ambitious energy savings" could reduce the country's energy intensity by a targeted 2%/year by 2015 then 2.5%/year by 2030 through 30% savings in the residential and small business sector, 10% in the transportation sector, and 15% in industry.

-- Consumers should be helped in their efforts to use energy rationally.

-- A national debate is needed on "sustainable mobility" because energy efficiency in transport is fundamental and because transportation has offset practically all savings achieved so far in other consumption sectors.

-- Increased investment in renewable energy would reduce carbon dioxide emissions, improving energy independence, and create around 200,000 jobs in France.

-- Fiscal tools modeled on Denmark's "green taxes" would bring about the changes. These should be applied and harmonized at the European level to direct consumption towards goods and equipment designed to save energy.