Sarkozy promises "green revolution"

French president Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday called for a green revolution as he unveiled plans for cleantech investment targets and green taxes designed to position France as a leader in the fight against climate change.

"France isn't late, but France wants now to be in the lead," he said in a speech to close a special environmental policy conference that brought together leading environmental and business groups.

The new president also signalled his support for green taxes; committed €1bn over four years for cleantech research; announced plans for increased investment in France's high-speed rail network; and promised a major new home insulation programme.

Under the new strategy, France has also committed to a major increase in its renewable energy capacity, with Sarkozy claiming spending on nuclear power would be matched by spending on renewables. He added that the investment would ensure that France exceeds the proposed EU-wide target for 20 per cent of energy to come from renewables by 2020.

In a move that was broadly welcomed by France's powerful agricultural lobby, Sarkozy also announced plans for new sustainable farming regulations and the gradual phasing out of GM crops.

France remains one of the few countries on track to meet its Kyoto carbon reduction targets, but environmentalists have argued that this is primarily because of its reliance on nuclear power. They have also accused the French government of consistently ignoring environmental issues and allowing Germany and Britain to steal a lead in the development of clean technologies.

Sarkozy's new initiative appears to have headed off much of this criticism and means that Germany, the UK and France – Europe's big three economies – have now all confirmed wide-reaching and ambitious climate change strategies.