French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said France would produce one million electric vehicles by 2027 as part of its strategy to reduce carbon emissions by 55 per cent by the end of the decade.
Mr Macron held a meeting with a number of ministers, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, as they nailed down a dozen action plans to cut carbon emissions.
"My absolute priority is decarbonisation," he said after the talks. The President called on a "fair and accessible" green transition, "which does not leave anyone behind".
Mr Macron said climate goals represent an opportunity for investment and job creation as political opposition to green policies increases across the European continent.
French low-income consumers, who cannot afford the higher initial price tag of an electric car compared to a fuel-powered vehicle, could benefit from financial incentives to make the switch.
They will soon be able to register to lease an electric vehicle – as long as it is made in Europe – at a cost of €100 a month.
The subsidy plan, which will be fully unveiled in November, will target "only be a few tens of thousands of models" at first, Mr Macron said.
France hopes in parallel to develop its own electric battery factories to reduce its dependency on China, with four new plants expected to be running and exporting by 2027.
At 66 million tonnes in 2021, the largest bulk of France's carbon emissions comes from private vehicles.
Mr Macron also wants to invest massively in domestically produced heat pumps, with the aim of manufacturing one million pumps by 2027 – three times more than current production.
"We could have, like some, implemented an outright ban on gas boilers," said Mr Macron, in an apparent reference to Germany's recent difficulties in introducing a phase-out plan.
"But we decided [...] instead to incentivise and encourage our compatriots – without a ban – to make the switch," added Mr Macron, who lauded heat pumps for their lower electricity consumption and carbon emission.
Also high on the list of priorities of the French President was "regaining control" of electricity prices.
"We'll be able to announce in October electricity prices that are in line with our competitiveness," he said, adding this would apply to households and businesses.
"By the end of the year we will regain control of the price of electricity, at French and European level."
Elsewhere in Europe, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week announced a five-year delay on a ban on new gas and diesel cars that was due to take effect in 2030, watering down climate goals he had said imposed "unacceptable costs" on ordinary people.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
DUBAI CARNIVAL RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner Dubai Future, Harry Bentley (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner Dubai Love, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Equilateral, James Doyle, Charles Hills.
8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m
Winner Laser Show, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Glorious Journey, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dunki
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