France aims to reduce greenhouse gases by 40 percent in 2030 from 1990 levels for a sustainable future and human-induced climate change. In this context, the draft law banning domestic flights to less than 2.5 hours by rail was approved by the French National Assembly. The bill is expected to take effect soon.
The National Assembly vote was held after the French government decided to provide 4 billion Euros to recapitalize the national airline company Air France and to increase the government share in the company. The Air France - KLM partnership announced a loss of 7.1 billion Euros in 2020, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We know that airlines increase carbon emissions and cause climate change, and we need to reduce it,” said Agnes Pannier-Runachershe, Minister of Industry of France. Likewise, we know that we need to help our companies and prevent them from going bankrupt ”.
It is stated that the bill will affect the flights between the capital Paris and Nantes, Lyon and Bordeux.
Environmental activists, on the other hand, find two and a half hours insufficient, demanding that the draft be revised to abolish domestic flights under four hours.
