President Emmanuel Macron said the government would fund new public transport, environmentally friendly housing and low-carbon energy projects.
Photo: christian hartmann/ReutersPARIS—French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday pledged an additional €15 billion ($16.8 billion) in government spending to help the transition to a cleaner economy, a day after his party took a drubbing at the hands of the Green Party in local elections.
The French leader is under pressure to show he is taking decisive steps to tackle climate change after Green Party candidates scored historic victories in municipal elections across France.
Mr. Macron, whose party failed to win a large city, said the government would fund new public transport, environmentally friendly housing and low-carbon energy projects. “Now is the time to act,” he said.
Mr. Macron has been a vocal proponent of fighting climate change on the world stage, seeking to counter President Trump by promising to “make our planet great again.” But critics say he has been too timid in addressing the issue at home. The Haut Conseil pour le Climat, an independent climate advisory council, says France has fallen way behind on its targets for lowering carbon emissions.
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Mr. Macron is torn between opposing currents that grew out of the yellow-vest movement. Those protests started in 2018 among commuters demanding the government roll back a planned rise in fuel taxes. When Mr. Macron backed off from the increase, however, he angered environmentally conscious voters.
Mr. Macron announced his measures Monday in an address to a climate council set up in response to the yellow-vest movement. The council of 150 citizens chosen at random has been tasked with drawing up proposals for measures France can take to cut carbon emissions by 40% before 2030.
Mr. Macron said 146 proposals presented by the council would be put to parliament and a new bill voted on by the end of the summer. He rejected three proposals, including a 4% tax on dividends to help fund new environmental policies, which he said would discourage investments.
Write to Noemie Bisserbe at noemie.bisserbe@wsj.com
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