Going Green the French Way

Last month, France’s equivalent of the Green Party gained 13% of the vote in the country’s regional elections. Environmental policy is undoubtedly one of France’s greatest concerns. There's no denying they take "conservation" to another level.

Last month, the political party Europe Écologie (France’s equivalent of the Green Party) gained 13% of the vote in the country’s regional elections. Europe Écologie’s election results put the party in third place, behind the governing party of Nicolas Sarkozy, l’UMP.  This was an unprecedented victory for Europe Écologie – who, up until this election, never felt powerful enough to present an independently affiliated candidate.

Environmental policy is undoubtedly one of France’s greatest concerns. Just a few years behind Americans’ obsession with all things organic, supermarchés biologiques (organic supermarkets) have started popping up on every block.  However, despite Americans’ preexisting obsession with Whole Foods and trendy organic products, there’s no denying that Europe takes “conservation” to another level.

I have yet to see an entrance foyer – both in public and private buildings – in which the light does not immediately shut off after 2 minutes.  There are rarely paper towels in public restrooms, but rather reusable clothes and – less frequently – automatic dryers… not to mention, the toilets have noticeably less water.  My landlord reminds me constantly to unplug electronics, don’t let the water run, and turn off any unnecessary lights.  Perhaps it’s a function of costs, but there’s no denying that I’ve become staggeringly more conscious of my “ecological footprint” since living in France.

“It’s safe to say that everyone cares, to some degree, about the environmental situation,” claims a fellow classmate.

In addition to quotidian practices aimed at limiting individuals’ ecological footprint, the government has consistently endorsed environmentally friendly policies, both on the national and international level.  After winning the Presidency, right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to commit himself to a Révolution Verte (Green Revolution). Additionally, France has successfully reduced its greenhouse gas emissions in its attempt to meet the stipulations of the Kyoto Protocol (although, that is not to say they have necessarily succeeded in realizing said stipulations).

Unsurprisingly, the French find U.S. environmental policy worrisome.  “We liked Obama…but then Afghanistan and Copenhagen happened,” says Marco, a French-Italian living in the Neuilly-sur-Seine neighborhood of France (one of the wealthier neighborhoods just outside of Paris, and incidentally the home of Sarkozy).

Ironically, recycling in France is very uncommon.  “We just don’t have room in our house to recycle,” claims my landlord, “and if we did recycle, we would have to take our recyclables ourselves to les grandes poubelles.”  Les grandes poubelles are enormous green bins on the sidewalk that can usually be found every few blocks in residential areas.

Though the French undoubtedly outshine the U.S. in most respects when it comes to environmental policy and practices, there’s one thing we do better for the planet: recycle.