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This article concentrates on the funding of green transition policies implemented in France during the 2010s. Instead of examining the emerging European Investor State through its "new" public investment policies, such as loans, equity, investment banks, and funds, this article examines the transformations of "older" public investment policies, specifically investment subsidies. We contend that the European Investor State is currently marked by a paradox: while public resources for investment, particularly for green transition investments, are increasing, the means to distribute these resources are diminishing. Austerity measures and new public management policies are undermining territorial administrations, thereby limiting their ability to accurately identify and support beneficiaries. This bureaucratic weakness within the European Investor State significantly affects the effective distribution of subsidies, because they tend to be increasingly concentrated among larger communities and companies, as well as a broad spectrum of private intermediaries. Consequently, the European Investor State appears multifaceted and occasionally contradictory, lacking long-term continuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the security of energy supply in Europe is at stake, the debate on energy sources prominently took hold on the agenda of European countries. Nuclear energy is one of the issues on this agenda. However, nuclear energy is discussed quite differently in Germany and France, although the two countries both experienced strong public protest in the 1970s and are similar in size, economy, industry and culture. By comparing the two, this article analyses the reasons for the different debates on nuclear energy existent in Germany and France. It argues that stances on nuclear energy form the core of social identities that prevent members of these groups to deviate from the group norm. The relevance of certain types of identities is a function of the institutions of the political system. To change the way energy sources are discussed, it is necessary to create or make salient different group identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

France has played an active role in the environmental policy field in Africa prior to, during, and since the European colonial era on the continent in the 19th century. However, because France's overseas activities receive inadequate attention in the Anglophone literature, knowledge of this role is scant among English‐speaking scholars. This article analyzes French activities in the environmental policy field in Africa. The focus is on five specific substantive environmental policy areas: land tenure, forestry, agriculture, mining, and the built environment. The main objective is to highlight the environmental fairness, equity, and justice implications of French activities in these areas. The activities are shown to be unfair, inequitable, and unjust to traditionally marginalized societal groups. These groups were comprised of indigenous Africans during the colonial era and, thereafter, of the poor, women, and ethnic minorities. National and international authorities would do well to institute fairness, equity, and justice as a requirement for all initiatives, especially by multinational corporations, in the environmental policy field in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-natural habitats (SNHs) are essential to biodiversity and agroecological conservation. The impact of agricultural policies on the development of SNHs is a matter of substantial importance. This study conducted a comparative analysis to examine the variations of SNHs' quantity, landscape quality, and ecosystem services resulting from the differentiated agricultural policies in China and the EU from 1990 to 2020. The Yangtze River Delta region (YRD) in China and France was selected as the study area. The results revealed that France exhibited a higher proportion of SNHs, along with improved connectivity and diversity in its plains, whereas SNHs in the YRD were limited in quantity and characterized by unstable landscape structure and ecosystem services. Both the YRD and France experienced a shift in the declined SNHs towards higher altitudes. There was noticeable landscape fragmentation and degraded ecosystem services in the hilly areas of YRD and the high plains of France. The agricultural policies of the EU achieved limited success in protecting SNHs, while China's agricultural landscapes were rapidly losing SNHs due to the absence of policy support. Based on these, the paper puts forward some countermeasures and suggestions for developing SNHs in China and the EU. Our study contributes to the global effort for agroecological conservation. • Comparative analysis of SNHs in China and the EU from 1990 to 2020. • Both YRD and France experienced a shift in declining SNHs towards higher altitudes. • Limited success of EU agricultural policies in SNH protection over three decades. • Rapid loss of SNHs in China's agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Key to bridging knowing–doing gaps is analysis of the constraints binding interactions between decision-makers and conservation biologists to clarify the problems they address. We apply this analysis to decision situations in the Northern Vosges (France), which illustrate three kinds of constraints: governance, framework and initiative. We explore how conservation biologists can mitigate constraints so as to foster more ambitious conservation actions in each case. The first case explores attempts at reintroducing the lynx (Lynx lynx). In this case, we show that governance plays a key role, in the sense that conservation actions should focus on improving the acceptability of reintroductions to key stakeholders. The second case refers to water monitoring schemes. Here we show that framing is the dominant constraint. This means that conservation actions are tightly limited by the use of a restrictive scientific apparatus. The last case study, fish stock protection, is constrained by initiative. Here, decision-makers have too much leverage to implement solutions they favour, even if they are not the best options in conservation terms. Exploring how our framework relates to the existing literature allows us to highlight its usefulness for rationalizing conservation problem framing and for strengthening the ambitions of conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolitical risks and environmental policy have become increasingly important in the European Union (EU), which is committed to tackling climate change and protecting the environment. However, geopolitical risks can undermine its environmental policy objectives. Thus, the study evaluates the relationship between geopolitical risks and environmental policy in nineteen EU countries from 1994 to 2020 through panel bootstrap Granger causality. The results show that geopolitical risks significantly influence environmental policy in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Romania. On the other hand, the findings reveal that environmental policy causes geopolitical risks only in Latvia, while there is no relationship in the remaining countries. Therefore, policymakers must develop resilience to geopolitical risks, promote renewable energy, strengthen environmental regulations, and address social and economic implications to reduce environmental policy vulnerability to geopolitical risks., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Environmental policy monitoring requires data with suitable spatial and temporal resolutions. We present a new method of spatialising pesticide sales in France to monitor environmental policies on a territorial scale. Data on pesticide sales in France are available yearly at a postal code resolution. Our spatialisation model combines parcel-scale land use data with information on pesticide types and applied doses, based on legal authorisations for pesticide use in France. We compared the performance of our new model with that of a simple surface fraction model in two distinct territories: Bourville (830 ha, Normandy), a small catchment composed of two small postal code fractions with available ground truth data about pesticide application, and Pleine-Fougères (12,007 ha, Britany), a larger area with a single postal code comprising seven municipalities with contrasting inter-municipal land uses and no ground truth information about pesticide application. For the Bourville site, due to homogeneous land use, the new model was no better than the simple model for global pesticide use, but it performed better when the results were analysed by crop type. For the Pleine-Fougères site, the new model was effective in distinguishing the use of pesticides by municipality, whereas the simple model was not. Our results demonstrate that our new model improves pesticide use quantification at a territorial level and can provide valid support for monitoring public policies regarding water quality and pesticide use over time and space. [Display omitted] • We propose a new spatialisation model of pesticide sales for France. • We apply the new model to two study areas and compare it with the model currently in use. • The results from the new model were consistent with the ground truth by land use type. • The new model helps to differentiate contrasting areas of pesticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the link between carbon dioxide (C O 2 ) emissions and income inequality in France over 1980–2018, focusing on the choice of income inequality indicators in use. To do so, we use a new source of data on net (post-tax and transfer) income inequality indicators using net Gini and Atkinson indexes. We also use market (pre-tax and transfer) income inequality indicators utilizing the market Gini index and share of market income earned by the richest 10% of the population. Using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, we find that income inequality has a different impact on C O 2 emissions, depending on the income definition used for estimated disparities. Furthermore, the ARDL test shows that the market inequality coefficients are non-significant. However, net inequality indicators reduce C O 2 emissions, and these results are consistent with the marginal propensity to emit theories, where some inequality could remain necessary to environmental quality. • Investigate the relationship between income inequality and C O 2 emissions in France, using alternative income inequality indicators. • We apply the method of ARDL for estimations. • We find that the relationship between income inequality and C O 2 emissions varies with income inequality measure. • Empirical findings suggest ensuring environmental policies besides income redistribution policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European Union environmental policy has created a unique regulatory framework to favour aquatic ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation across European countries. Identifying the spatial structure of freshwater fish population dynamics is crucial to define region-specific management and conservation planning. To implement evidence-driven management and conservation decisions at a regional scale we assessed spatial heterogeneity in common freshwater fish population dynamics in France with a focus on trends in River Basin Districts (RBDs). The abundance and biomass growth rates of 18 common European freshwater fish species were estimated with state-space models on 546 sites distributed across the 5 main RBDs sampled in France between 1990 and 2011. Anguilla anguilla , Rutilus rutilus , Salmo trutta fario and Esox spp. exhibited large scale decline in abundance and/or biomass in several RBDs. The other species showed spatial heterogeneity in population growth rates. The main declines were observed in the Adour-Garonne and Loire-Bretagne RBDs, where management and conservation measures are urgently needed to halt the erosion of freshwater fish populations. In each of the 5 investigated RBDs, our results highlight areas where most of the common species we studied exhibited negative population growth rates. Freshwater fish surveys provide the fundamental information necessary to inform the European environmental policies and local environmental management needed to restore freshwater biodiversity. The next steps are to identify the main drivers of freshwater biodiversity erosion in the areas where we demonstrated major declines and to define the most cost-effective restoration measures. • Population dynamic analyses at the regional scale provide crucial information. • Two main River Basin Districts in France exhibit major fish decline. • Four common European freshwater fish species decline at a large scale. • Intra-River Basin District variability in fish population dynamics request local management. • Population dynamic analyses provide complementary information to ecological indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the mitigation hierarchy, which is designed to achieve no net loss of biodiversity, is being adopted in many countries, comprehensive evidence of its effectiveness at a national scale is lacking. Only a few major development projects covering specific natural habitats or a limited geographical scale are used as illustrative cases. There is a critical need for nationwide, up-to-date datasets to assess the scope of the implementation of mitigation hierarchy. In this study, we used a national database consisting of 2588 development projects to assess how this policy is implemented in France. We found that the objective of no net loss is primarily targeted through reduction measures implemented during the construction phase of development projects or through compensation measures, and that both of these are mainly based on technical solutions rather than geographical or temporals solutions. When offsets are required, these tend to be dispersed over many small sites and are mainly implemented in agricultural and natural areas, including areas of high ecological interest (~50%). These results suggest that ecological and financial additionality to other environmental policies may not be achieved. The findings also highlight significant differences in the treatment of small and large development projects, reflecting that the extent of this policy is uneven. These results demonstrate the importance of the availability of national data in providing an overall vision of the implementation of the hierarchy. However, a precise definition of stakeholders' roles and responsibilities is imperative to ensure information is entered into the database effectively and to allow the long-term monitoring of the achievement of no net loss at a national scale. • 75% of biodiversity offsets <3.6 ha, whereas the projects they mitigate are larger. • 85% of offsets overlap agricultural/natural areas compared to 8% in artificial areas. • Transport projects represent 11% of the number of offsets, but 42% of offset surface area. • Most mitigation measures are planned to occur during the project construction phase. • Offsets do not always offer true additionality to other environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Healthcare products (HP) have a significant carbon footprint that must be included by regulation in the facility's purchasing policy. A national overview of the inclusion of environmental criteria (EC) in the public procurement (PP) of HP in hospitals has been carried out., Methods: Thirty EC were identified in the literature. Two questionnaires were proposed: (i) for buyers that analyze the level of "importance" and "ease of application" for public tenders (PT), and (ii) for suppliers that declare their commitments and evidence., Results: Six regional buyers and 28 suppliers participated. Buyers recognize the "importance" of sustainable development (SD) but are more reticent about the "applicability" of EC in PT. The environmental rating remains low: on average 4.38 (0.25-10.00) % of the total rating. Only 12 EC are integrated within some PT. Suppliers report a high and diversified commitment to SD: 18 suppliers sent 474 evidence. Buyers and suppliers converge on the optimization of primary packaging and the establishment of a minimum order or delivery group., Conclusions: Since the efficiency of PP is inevitable, EC that combines SD and savings should be prioritized. The integration of additional EC, simple and easily documented, allowing cost containment for both suppliers and buyers, is possible to promote sustainable purchasing., (Copyright © 2021 Académie Nationale de Pharmacie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Modern agricultural systems use both managed and wild bees in order to secure the provision of pollination services. However, the decline of both bee species due to the increased use of pesticides raises concerns for the supply of pollination services in agriculture. Because European policies seem ineffective in safeguarding bees as they fail to address farmers' socio-economic issues, farmers' adoption rate of friendlier practices by pollinators remains limited. This study uses a farm-level ecological-economic model to explore the potential impacts of changing policy intervention on the provision of pollination services and on farmers' incomes in two characteristic farms in Southwestern France. Moreover, it integrates the economic importance of behavioral interactions between managed and wild bees on crop production. The model assesses farmers' adoption decisions about alternative practices under risk aversion through an optimization choice among several crops, practices (novel/conventional), variable inputs, and pollination activity. The results show that a knowledge of bees' complementarity may facilitate farmers' adoption decisions. Furthermore, they highlight that different levels of Agri-Environmental Schemes and penalties can be efficiently targeted to encourage the implementation of new farming practices in order to preserve pollination services and maintain economically viable farms. • A farm-scale assessment of the impact of changing policy interventions on farm incomes and pollination services. • Bees' complementarity is a factor which may facilitate farmers' adoption decisions. • AESs and penalties can be efficiently targeted to encourage the implementation of new farming practices towards the provision of pollination services. • A pathway for the monetary valuation of pollination services in arable crop farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2012, France has been engaged in its energy and environmental policy transformation. The legislative framework for this change is the Energy transition for green growth Act. The policy on energy transition and sustainable development is carried out at the local level by the regions which rely on their territories. This paper aims to provide a useful tool to policy-makers in order to monitor sustainable development and energy transition policies in Norman territories. This first part of the research provides the evaluation's framework through an Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Index. The methodological strategy is based on a systematic literature survey on both academic work related to energy transition and sustainable development and the Normady's sustainable development and energy transition policies. Based on literature review, the study identified six policy-packages in which policy-makers may act: The "environment and resources use", the "sustainable territories and mobility", the "energy security and transition", the "economic dynamics", the "governance dimension" and the "social dimension". The index is built using the budget allocation process approach. Strengths and weaknesses of the index are clearly identified and highlighted in order to warn future users of the tool the cautions they should take in the implementation of the index, including challenges to make data available for such an implementation. • The paper evaluates France's energy transition Policy at the Normandy region level. • A local index of energy transition and sustainable development is constructed. • Three profiles of territories are identified: Leading, intermediate and timid transition territories. • Six policy-packages in which policy-makers may act are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]