The French debate on 'energy conservation and energy efficiency' is no longer 'ideological'

The French government will not impose binding measures on companies on how to reach a national energy savings target, Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said on Thursday, as France prepares for a possible tough winter regarding supplies of energy.

President Emmanuel Macron's government is due to announce sector-by-sector energy saving measures later on Thursday, designed to avoid power outages or shortfalls in gas supplies during the winter. Some business leaders are also due to unveil their saving plans. The measures, aimed at bringing down the country's energy consumption by 10% compared to 2019, will include turning off hot water in state administration buildings and lowering the temperature in swimming pools and gyms. For more on France's efforts to stave off an energy crisis, FRANCE 24 is joined by Andreas Rüdinger, an Associate Research Fellow at IDDRI, specialized in the field of energy and climate policies.