France, which is said to be weary and tired, was undoubtedly not ready for constraint. So it was to the State and its administrations that the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, first asked to make an effort. On Tuesday July 25, Matignon sent all ministers and secretaries of state a circular calling on them to contribute to “the unprecedented effort in terms of energy sobriety”.
In detail, State services are asked to respect the instructions for the most part already in force: limit the air conditioning to 26 degrees, do not raise the heating to more than 19 degrees, have a thermostat, turn off lighting, encouraging carpooling and soft mobility… “These measures are necessary not only to improve our energy sobriety but also for the sake of setting an example and acceptability of the efforts that will be required of society as a whole”, justifies the circular. It will be up to each minister to judge the advisability of choosing such and such a means of transport (train, plane, car, etc.) for travel, taking into account environmental issues but also security constraints.
At the start of the school year, once the conclusions of the various working groups have been collected, a roadmap will be drawn up so that the administrations as well as the companies meet the objective of a 10% reduction in energy consumption by the next two years. Certain measures, such as closing the doors of air-conditioned stores or turning off illuminated signs at night, have already been put in place and failure to comply with them is subject to penalties.
These measures will remind people aged 50 and over of the “anti-waste” measures advocated by the government in the 1970s after the oil shocks, but also those advocated, in particular, by Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in the early 2000s to respond to the ecological requirements.
Threat of a halt to Russian exports
Today there is urgency. In response to Western sanctions imposed on Russia, a belligerent in the Ukrainian conflict, Moscow is threatening to cut off gas supplies to Europe. Cuts are to be feared this winter. To avoid shortages and load shedding measures that could interrupt economic activity in the event of a crisis, the government is trying to anticipate, by reducing consumption and strengthening stocks. “I will now ask public administrations, our large groups, all those who can to prepare a plan, there, from this summer, so that we can put ourselves in a position to consume less”had warned during his interview on July 14 Emmanuel Macron.
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