Paris Climate Plan: Decarbonization, a monumental investment but perhaps profitable by 2042

With what-ifs, we could bottle Paris. But with what-ifs, too, the decarbonization of the capital could bring in more than it costs. On November 20, the Paris Council adopted the 2024-2030 Climate Plan. Its objective is clear: to halve CO2 emissions by 2030 and eliminate them completely by 2050. A costly approach, but one that could also prove profitable, according to a study by the French Economic Observatory commissioned by the city council... Provided certain assumptions are validated, and that we dig deep into our pockets.

The study reports that achieving carbon neutrality requires two actions, among others: the massive energy renovation of buildings and a significant transformation of mobility. These two sectors are responsible for 91% of CO2 emissions. The most optimistic scenario, in which Paris follows its Climate Plan, would see per capita emissions drop from 2 tons in 2024 to 0.2 tons in 2050, a decrease of 94%. If no measures are taken, Parisians would have annual carbon emissions of 1.2 tons in 2050, as these are already on a downward trend. But this would still be a long way from the desired neutrality.