GLOBAL RUSH TO DECARBONIZE OUR INDUSTRIES
In the face of successive crises, this is not a choice, it's an emergency of which every nation is now aware. Europe has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, while China is catching its breath after the health crisis, and is moving with all its might towards the energy transition. The countries of South and East Asia are determined to position themselves in decarbonized products. Against a backdrop of trade war, the Americans are protecting their economy with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and injecting tens of billions of dollars into the climate component of their stimulus package. In short, we are experiencing a global rush to decarbonize our industries. The economies that achieve it first will have a formidable competitive advantage.
In Europe, as in the rest of the world, the race is on. But the starting line is not the same for all nations. In terms of energy choices, our country has solid advantages that our German partners do not have: according to RTE, around 92% of France's electricity is generated from decarbonized sources, while estimates for Germany are just over 50%.
So France has a slight lead. But let's not be naive: to keep it, we need to reduce our dependence on imports through successful reindustrialization. To play our part in the rush to decarbonize, we must therefore enable the construction of sustainable industrial models and invest massively in our industrial capacities. We have a unique opportunity: the Green Industry bill.
THE GREEN INDUSTRY BILL: AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OUR SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY MODELS
The government is proposing a bill to Parliament to remove the weaknesses and obstacles hindering our reindustrialization, and above all, to ensure that it is green. The first announcements outline a bill focusing on five areas, ranging from administrative obstacles and taxation to the rehabilitation of brownfield sites. Our place in tomorrow's economy depends on this bill, which urgently needs to be put into practice.
We have no right to let our debates get bogged down in the superimposition of narrow technical measures. We have no right to let political squabbles get in the way of implementing this vital project. The urgency is absolute - for the climate, for our economy, for our jobs, for our country. It would be pointless to try to fight every battle, we must prioritizeto give an immediate and powerful boost to the decarbonization of our industry.
And the first battle is the battle of hearts! Because industry is too laggard, too carbon-intensive, too discriminating against women, too associated with a lack of qualifications, and has long suffered from an image deficit that makes it unattractive to our talents. Right now, we need to.., inspire our young people to embark on the collective adventure that is the industry of tomorrow. A crucial challenge, at a time when industry needs to recruit more than 110,000 profiles a year between now and 2025 to accelerate its transformation (UIMM).
FOR GREEN INDUSTRY CAMPUSES!
Training is the second priority Green industry jobs are being invented now. Let's concentrate training, research and innovation in "green industry" campuses!
Because let's be clear: the success of our industry's decarbonization depends on our ability to bring on board, collectively, all the players who will take part in it: current and future talents, major groups, ETIs, SMEs and research laboratories. Green industry will be driven by all these players in our territories, and they will need simplification, freedom and innovation.
The challenges are immense, but we know what they are. In this race towards decarbonization, green industry needs this impetus. We mustn't stifle those who innovate with a heavy-handed administrative straitjacket. Let's simplify, massively and quickly!
*Gilles Bonnenfant, Chairman of Eurogroup Consulting
Opinion column published in Les Echos on 12/05/23
