Emmanuel Macron Condemns Environmental Rollbacks and Defends His Green Agenda

Ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference opening Monday in Nice, Emmanuel Macron is raising his voice against recent decisions seen as setbacks for ecological transition. In an interview with regional press, the French president denounced the “unraveling” of environmental policies and called for resistance against “short-term conveniences,” describing it as a “historic mistake” in climate management.

Targets include the removal of Low Emission Zones (LEZ), the suspension of the MaPrimeRénov’ program, and the return of controversial pesticides such as neonicotinoids. “I am not happy with what I have seen these past few days,” said the head of state, reaffirming that ecology “remains a priority” and necessarily involves “constraints.”

Claiming he has “no lessons to receive” on ecology from other political parties, Emmanuel Macron blamed this rollback on a mixed coalition of right-wing members, La France Insoumise, and the National Rally. He called for resistance against environmental populism or inertia, insisting that the time is not for giving up but for responsibility.

A Steady Course Despite Headwinds

On practical measures, the president announced upcoming initiatives. He reaffirmed his goal to increase strictly protected marine areas from 4% to over 10% by 2026, and promised to limit bottom trawling in sensitive zones due to its destructive impact on marine ecosystems. He also plans to revive bottle deposit schemes and intensify the fight against single-use plastics.

Following the surprising announcement of the indefinite suspension of MaPrimeRénov’, Macron said he “expects the government to maintain this policy,” deeming it “unacceptable” to create uncertainty when both households and professionals need support for energy renovation.

“Guardian of Those Who Cannot Speak”

Facing criticism, the president advocates for a pace compatible with the country’s economic and social realities, calling for a “fair” and “non-punitive” ecology. A close aide described this outburst as a reflection of Macron’s “sincerity” and “ecological commitment”: “He is the guardian of those who cannot speak for themselves — our children. Environmental rollbacks are unacceptable to him. We can debate the means, but the ambition must remain firm.”