The recent propensity for green bashing and green blaming has cleared the way for an ecological backlash, with environmental policies already adopted now being challenged to a greater or lesser extent. Nonetheless, challenges such as health, climate, biodiversity and resource management remain more critical than ever and will be among the highest priorities for the futures of towns and cities⁽¹⁾. Below we present a snapshot of the main topical points and key issues.

A mayor’s many environmental responsibilities

In France, mayors are responsible for a whole range of environmental issues (urban planning, development, public and school transport, heritage, housing, waste, water and sanitation, energy and ports, waterways and maritime links) and face constant regulatory pressures on these matters. Their role in regards to the environment was brought into sharper focus by the Grenelle de l’environnement in 2007, followed that same year by the Mayors’ Environmental Charter, developed by the French Mayors Association (AMF) with every mayor being encouraged to add their signature⁽²⁾.

Numerous texts have since been adopted, but some of these are now being questioned, including the Climate & Resilience Act of 2021 which introduced the ZNA (Zero Net Artificialization) target, the LEZs⁽³⁾, and a ban on the renting-out of properties with very poor energy efficiency. Far from being a purely French concern, the same is true Europe-wide.

Put simply, while the planet faces a triple threat (pollution and waste, loss of biodiversity, climate change) the consequences of which are becoming ever more apparent, a number of issues where real progress had been made are now being scaled back. Alongside this citizens themselves are splitting into two opposing factions; those critical of action, and those who bemoan inaction… meaning that as the elected official closest to the people, the mayor must constantly strike a balance while planning for the short, medium and long term. Not an easy task given that the vast majority of the 34,875 mayors due to be elected next year will not have a deputy dedicated to the ecological transition, and will have to manage all these challenges themselves.

The main hurdles

During a survey⁽⁴⁾ carried out in the summer of 2024, 500 elected representatives were asked for the 2 main barriers to carrying out their ecological transition projects.  Top of the list was lack of funding (68%),  followed by the complexity of support schemes (38%), overly restrictive standards (29%) and a lack of technical expertise within the local authority (18%). Other challenges were also mentioned, including the prioritising of other issues (12%), lack of certainty around the effectiveness of projects (11%), public opposition (9%), lobbying by stakeholders (6%) and political opposition (4%).

Help and support

To counter this, the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) offers around sixty support schemes aimed at local authorities and administrations, including financial support (inc. heat fund, circular economy fund, green fund, France 2030) and support schemes such as Elus pour agir, a network of elected representatives with expertise in the ecological and energy transition (3,500 members, 60% of whom are from municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants), the Plus fraîche ma ville programme and the Territoire Engagé Transition Ecologique programme (see box). The Agency also offers the Mission Adaptation programme to help local authorities adapt to the effects of climate change. This highly coordinated State-run engineering package, created with several other operators⁽⁵⁾, brings together all the publicly funded support aimed at local authorities who lack the in-house skills to undertake vulnerability assessment and the resulting adaptation strategy.

Sector-specific issues currently facing local authorities

The Produce and consume sector predominantly concerns the issue of resource preservation. For instance, current concerns around water resources focus heavily on the treatment of micropollutants and developing the recycling of treated wastewater.  For soils, the primary aim is restoration of their health, while for energy, the objective is always to work towards reducing consumption.  Nutrition in cities is tending strongly toward “eat fresh, healthy and local food”.

The Planning, Building and Housing sector is currently particularly interested in the redevelopment of brownfield sites (with a view to improving land use efficiency), low-carbon construction, and the renovation of buildings and housing. In this context, in April 2025 the SCET network (SCET – Consultancy and Support company for local and regional authorities), in collaboration with Efficacity and the CSTB (Scientific and Technical Center for Building),  published a guide on reducing the carbon footprint of development projects. A further noteworthy development is the concept of ‘permeable parking’: car parks able to soak up rainwater.

Within the Transport and Travel sector, development of soft mobility (such as infrastructure for bicycles and pedestrians), clean public transport, and sustainable urban logistics (last-mile deliveries by low-impact vehicles) continue to play a key role. Another trending concept is that of the ‘15-minute city’; a city where all essential facilities are located within a 15 minute trip.

The Biodiversity in the City sector demonstrates significant commitment to urban greening; ‘bringing nature into the city’ through the creation of green spaces, developing shaded areas through tree planting, and more. A study published in June 2024⁽⁶⁾ found that natural spaces in urban areas prevented 275,000 illnesses and saved 22,000 lives in 2023 alone. Other current trends include urban agriculture and the development of urban forests.

As for the Health sector, issues of waste (reduction and recycling) and the pollution of air, water, and soil remain concerns, in particular the emissions of small particulates – linked to transport and heating –  and PFAS wastes in water and soils. In the same way plastics, pesticides and cigarette butts remain major issues in cities.

In the Combating Climate Change sector, particular emphasis is placed on the production of renewable (e.g. geothermal or biomass) and low-carbon (hydrogen) energies, as well as on decarbonisation and collective self-consumption of solar power. Not to be overlooked is the increasingly serious question of climate change adaptation: combating heat islands, managing coastlines for coastal municipalities, etc.

As regards Risk Prevention and Management, in addition to the risks associated with chemical products or NaTech hazards within the municipality, local authorities are increasingly vulnerable to climate or natural disasters exacerbated by climate change: floods; heatwaves and extreme temperatures; clay shrinkage and swelling; fires; storms; coastal flooding; and glacial and periglacial hazards in the mountains⁽⁷⁾. Alongside this, insurance for local authorities is becoming a critical consideration.

Another issue that is increasingly prevalent in recent years is environmental crime. For example, a growing number of mayors are confronted with the issue of fly-tipping, in turn raising the question of who pays for the clean-up.

How do we tackle these issues?

In November 2023, the French Senate commissioned a report into ‘Successfully committing to the environmental transition of your local authority’. Although the report focused more closely on climate change, it raised some valuable questions that can be applied to all environmental issues. For example: how can you determine which vulnerabilities need priority handling? How can you identify, launch, and accelerate environmentally-friendly projects? How do we balance today’s needs and social demands with the challenges of the future?? How can you organise and mobilise your administration to ensure that objectives can be implemented in practice? How can you create a support and feedback mechanism in your region to create a mutually beneficial dynamic between those involved?

The elected officials interviewed presented a number of key messages for mayors. So for example, they recommended training and education for all involved. They considered it essential to broaden understanding of the issues and to take ownership of them both locally and regionally. Another recommendation is to focus initially on specific projects to build momentum, before progressively working toward a global (systemic) approach. Finally, they stressed the need to seek cooperation with other parties involved.

1) Alongside safety/crime and school-related issues.

2) Launched in 2007, the charter has six highly topical key themes: promoting energy efficiency, conserving resources and combating climate change; controlling urban planning and diversifying public transport services; preserving natural resources; protecting biodiversity; combining environment and health; and implementing ecologically responsible municipal policies.

3) ZNA target (zero net artificialisation) against urban sprawl, LEZ: low emission zones (to preserve air quality).

4) Survey in French – Les élus face à la transition écologique : chiffres clés du baromètre de l’Ademe [Elected officials faced with the ecological transition: key figures from the Ademe barometer], published in ‘Les représentations sociales du changement climatique des Français, 25e vague du baromètre’ [French society perceptions of climate change, 25th barometer survey, October 2024].

5) French Water Agency, Cerema, Météo France, French Office for Biodiversity, French National Agency for Territorial Cohesion and Banque des Territoires

6) Asterès Study in June 2024 for UNep – Union nationale des entreprises du paysage [French national union of landscaping companies]

7) Hazards of glacial and periglacial origin linked to rapid changes in glaciers and frozen ground/slopes are the subject of a 2024-2026 inter-ministerial prevention strategy, with a dedicated action plan.