Insee Première · June 2025 · n° 2023

France’s greenhouse gases emissions and carbon footprint in 2023 France’s greenhouse gases emissions and carbon footprint went significantly down

The greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions from France’s resident units amounted to 403 million tons of CO₂ equivalent (Mt CO₂ eq) in 2023, 101 Mt of which were generated directly by households through the use of fossil fuels to heat their homes and power their vehicles (Figure 1). The remaining emissions, amounting to 302 Mt, are generated by economic activities. 180 Mt are used to satisfy domestic final demand in France, and 122 Mt are included in the goods and services that are exported to meet final demand in other countries (Sources).

France also imports goods and services, the production of which involves the generation of GHGs emissions abroad. The total emissions embodied in imports amount to 513 Mt CO₂ eq, the majority of which (362 Mt) are dedicated to satisfying French final demand (“imported” emissions). The remainder end up being embodied in goods and services that are manufactured in France, but then re-exported to the rest of the world.
Therefore France’s carbon footprint, which corresponds to emissions dedicated to satisfying French final demand, is estimated at 644 Mt in 2023. 101 Mt are generated directly by households (16%), 180 Mt by French economic activities (28%) and 362 Mt are imported (56%). Of those imported emissions, 146 Mt are associated with final use imports (23% of the footprint) and 216 Mt with imports for the purposes of domestic economic activities (34%).

Following an unprecedented drop linked to the health crisis (-10.4% between 2019 and 2020), France’s emissions saw a partial resurgence in 2021 (+5.8%), before falling again in 2022 (-2.9%). The decline accelerated in 2023 (-5.6% or -23.9 Mt CO₂ eq), while GDP increased by 0.9%. Emissions totalled 403 Mt CO₂ eq or 5.9 tons of CO₂ eq per person, compared with 6.9 tons in 2019.

Direct household emissions fell by 3.6% in 2023, or -3.8 Mt, reflecting reduced consumption of fossil fuels in connection with their homes (-6.6%, or -2.3 Mt) and vehicles (‑2.3%, or -1.5 Mt). These reductions are down to more economical behaviour, warmer winter weather and the improved energy efficiency of vehicles and housing.

The net reduction in the emissions of the various sectors of economic activity (-6.2%, or -20.1 Mt) is the result of both economic circumstances (improved availability of nuclear power generation infrastructure, the composition of economic growth, taking account in particular of the lack of dynamism of energy-intensive industries, the weather, etc.) and structural factors (energy efficiency of production means, decarbonisation trend of the energy mix, etc.) (Figure 2).

In 2023, with the exception of air transportation, all sectors of activity contributed to reducing emissions. The reduced emissions in the agriculture sector (-1.3 Mt) can essentially be explained by the decrease in the bovine population and the reduced use of fertilisers, in spite of a slight uptick in the volumes being produced. In 2022, the unprecedented shutdown of a large number of nuclear reactors increased reliance on thermal power stations for the production of electricity. In 2023, the availability of the nuclear fleet improved and renewable energy production increased, bringing about a 7.7 Mt drop in GHGs emissions. Reduced industrial activity brought about reductions in the emissions generated by metallurgy (-2.2 Mt). the production of cement and other non-metallic minerals (-1.3 Mt), chemistry (‑1.0 Mt) and the agri-food industry (-0.8 Mt). The hospitality industry saw an uptick in its activities, but was also able to mitigate its emissions, thanks in particular to lower energy consumption. The emissions generated by international maritime transportation fell (-3.5 Mt), while those generated by air transportation increased for the third consecutive year (+1.8 Mt) as a result of the resumption of flights following the health crisis.

In the medium to long-term, the majority of industries and the economy as a whole are experiencing a decoupling of production trends from GHGs emissions trends: emissions are falling while economic activity (production and value added), measured in constant euros, is increasing. This decoupling may result from a number of different factors: outsourcing of carbon-intensive manufacturing processes; using less carbon-intensive inputs (in particular energy products); changing the nature of the products manufactured; or adopting lower emission technologies, processes or behaviours.

Between 2022 and 2023, emission reductions were mostly observed in those industries geared more towards international demand than domestic demand (manufacturing industry and maritime transportation in particular). This explains why exported emissions fell by 12.6% or ‑17.6 Mt CO₂ eq and accounted for 85% of the decrease in emissions linked to French economic activity (while exports increased by 2.1% in constant euros in 2023). At the same time, the French emissions contained within the goods and services dedicated to satisfying French domestic final demand only fell by 1.4% (-2.5 Mt) against a backdrop of relatively stable domestic final demand (+0.3% in constant euros).

Over the longer term, France’s emissions have fallen by 31% since 1990, largely due to the reduction of emissions in the industrial sector.

In 2023, France’s carbon footprint was estimated at 644 Mt CO₂ eq, a drop of 4.1% when compared with 2022 (-27 Mt CO₂ eq). Between 2019 and 2020, the carbon footprint fell by an unprecedented 10.3% as a result of the health crisis. In 2021, when restrictions on movement were lifted and economic activities and international trade resumed, the carbon footprint jumped back up by +7.4%, then remained broadly stable in 2022 (+0.8%). In 2023, the carbon footprint fell once again, reaching 9.4 tons per capita, compared with 10.3 tons in 2019, before the health crisis.

Emissions from French and foreign economic activities dedicated to satisfying domestic final demand, which account for 84% of the carbon footprint, amount to 542 Mt CO₂ eq, a decrease of 4.2% when compared with 2022 (Figure 3). While domestic emissions (excluding households) remained broadly stable (-1.4% or -2.5 Mt CO₂ eq), imported emissions fell by 5.5% (-21.0 Mt CO₂ eq), accounting for three quarters of the total reduction of the carbon footprint. This reduction in imported emissions was due in particular to the fall in imports of mineral products (including cement) and clothing, but also to reduced imports of hydrocarbons and electricity, which had seen a significant increase in 2022 due to the geopolitical context (replenishment of gas stocks) and the reduced availability of the nuclear fleet. Direct household emissions, 101 Mt CO₂ eq or 16% of the carbon footprint, fell by 3.6% (-3.8 Mt), as mentioned above.

Final household consumption was behind 64% of the footprint (not including direct household emissions), the final consumption of administrative bodies and non-profit organisations accounted for 13% and investments and inventory changes for 23%. Although final household consumption increased (+0.8% in constant euros), the associated footprint decreased by 1.5% or -5 Mt CO₂ eq. This decoupling of household consumption trends and the associated emissions is also observed for investments (+0.4% in constant euros and -5.1% in terms of footprint, or -7 Mt CO₂ eq). Inventory changes produced a footprint of just 2 Mt in 2023, compared with 12 Mt in 2022. The reduction in emissions associated with inventories (-10 Mt) therefore represents more than one third of the decrease in the footprint between those two years.

Gas and electricity (-8.7 Mt), construction products (-5.6 Mt) and clothing (-3.0 Mt) are the main products contributing to the reduction of the footprint. Conversely, the footprint associated with the demand for air transportation increased (+3.2 Mt), together with that associated with motor vehicles (+2.6 Mt), linked to the resurgence in the number of new vehicles being registered. Final demand for commercial and public services rose by 1.7% in constant euros, but did not bring about a significant increase in emissions (Box).

Emissions by French residents have fallen by 31% since 1990 (and by 41% per capita, taking account of population growth): direct household emissions have fallen by 20%, emissions generated by economic activities dedicated to satisfying foreign final demand (exported emissions) have fallen by 26% and those dedicated to satisfying French final demand have fallen by 39%. However, France’s carbon footprint has reduced more slowly, by just 13% since 1990 (and by 26% per capita), reflecting a dual trend: a fall in emissions from domestic production (-39%) and direct household emissions (-20%), tempered by an increase in imported emissions (+13%).

Imported emissions would therefore represent 56% of the carbon footprint in 2023 compared with 43% in 1990. Several factors contribute to the increase in imported emissions: the relocation of certain production activities (for example, textile production halved in constant euro terms in France during the period, while consumption remained relatively stable), and an increase in French final demand for products that are primarily produced abroad (smartphones, for example).

In 2023, gross emissions associated with imports (513 Mt) were far higher than those generated by gross exports (273 Mt). In particular, trade in energy products and industrial goods resulted in the net import of approximately 207 Mt of GHGs. The only exception was the trade in aeronautical equipment, with an export balance of +7 Mt. For services, the trade balance is broadly at a surplus (+40 billion euros); however, the net GHGs associated are close to zero (‑3 Mt). In fact, the amount of GHGs produced per euro of foreign service activities is, on average, higher than for domestic service activities.

In 2023, the GHGs intensity of GDP was 118 grams of CO₂ eq per euro, whereas the GHGs content of imports was 618 grams of CO₂ eq per euro (Figure 4). The composition of these two aggregates is actually very different: imports primarily involve products with a high carbon content (energy products, metals, goods manufactured in countries with a very carbon-heavy energy mix), which are essential to the functioning of the national economy, while French GDP mostly covers industrial transformation activities that are less GHGs-intense, or services. The unit content of French exports (335 grams of CO₂ eq per euro) is also primarily attributable to manufactured goods. Lastly, the carbon footprint excluding direct household emissions, which includes domestic and imported emissions, recorded a GHGs content of 210 grams of CO₂ eq per euro of final demand.

Between 2010 and 2023, emissions generated by domestic economic activities (excluding direct household emissions) fell by 25%, with the total footprint reducing by 18%. Over that same period, the gross domestic product and final demand rose by 15% and 16% respectively in constant euros. This means that the GHGs emissions intensity of GDP has fallen (-35% over that same period), as has the GHGs content per euro of final demand (-30%). GDP (-3.3% per year on average) and imports (-3.5% per year) are decarbonising at relatively similar rates, while the content per euro of domestic final demand is decreasing at a slower pace (-2.7% per year) due to the growing share of imported emissions.