The National Assembly on Thursday rejected a bill aimed at lifting the ban on hydrocarbon exploration and production in France's overseas territories. The bill, registered under reference DLR5L17N53304, sought to authorize oil and gas exploration in these areas, despite a national ban in place since 2017. This parliamentary initiative was introduced amid tensions over energy supplies, but it met with widespread opposition.
Senate amendments that went nowhere
The Senate had previously examined this proposal, making several amendments during its review in committee. Parliamentary debates highlighted the economic stakes for the overseas territories, which are often dependent on fossil fuel imports. Some local elected officials hoped that the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources could strengthen their energy independence and create jobs in areas facing high unemployment.
Environmental groups satisfied with the rejection
The rejection of the proposal was welcomed by several environmental organizations, including Friends of the Earth France, BLOOM, Greenpeace, and Mayotte Nature Environnement, which are part of the Climate Action Network. These organizations had repeatedly voiced their opposition to the proposal, seeing it as a major risk to the marine and terrestrial biodiversity of the affected areas. They reiterated that France has committed to respecting the Paris Agreement on climate change, which they consider incompatible with the development of new fossil fuel resources.
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