Insee Première · October 2026 · n° 2130

France’s greenhouse gases emissions and carbon footprint in 2025 After two years of decline, the carbon footprint has barely diminished

In 2025, greenhouse gases emissions from French resident units – which include certain emissions abroad, in particular from maritime and air transport – totaled 398 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (Mt CO2 eq), or 5.8 metric tons per person. Meanwhile, France’s carbon footprint was estimated at 571 Mt CO2 eq, or 8.3 metric tons per person. The difference was attributable to emissions imported to meet French final demand, net of emissions exported by France.

For the second consecutive year, the decline in French emissions remained limited, with a 1.7% decrease in 2025 following a 1.5% decrease in 2024. This decline was driven more by emissions associated with exports (down 3.1%) than by those related to domestic final demand (down 0.9%). Imports increased in volume but continued to become less carbon‑intensive, so their carbon footprint remained virtually stable. As a result, the carbon footprint – half of which currently stems from imports – decreased only slightly in 2025 (-0.6%, following a -2.7% decline in 2024).

Since 1990, French emissions have decreased by an average of 1.1% per year, faster than the carbon footprint (down 0.6% on average). Since 2010, rates of decline have accelerated and converged: -2.1% per year for emissions and -1.8% for the carbon footprint, reflecting a reduction in the carbon intensity of economic activity (-3.2% per year) as well as that of domestic final demand (-2.8%).