France has announced what it described as a “first-of-its-kind” national roadmap to fully phase out coal by 2030, oil by 2045, and natural gas by 2050, as part of a global push to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The announcement was made during an international conference in Santa Marta, Colombia, where dozens of countries gathered for the first-ever talks focused on transitioning away from planet-warming fossil fuel dependence.
French officials said the roadmap does not introduce new commitments but consolidates existing climate and energy targets into a single structured plan with clear timelines. The move has been widely seen as an effort to provide a more transparent and unified national strategy.
France’s envoy to the conference, Benoit Faraco, said the plan sets explicit deadlines for ending fossil fuel use across the economy, particularly in the energy sector, where coal will be phased out by 2030, oil by 2045, and gas by 2050.
He noted that France is among the few countries with a clearly defined timetable for eliminating fossil fuels, calling the approach “original” and comprehensive. The roadmap also includes steps to phase out fossil fuel production and expand electrification in key sectors such as transport and heating.
France, which relies heavily on nuclear energy for electricity generation, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by five per cent annually between 2024 and 2028, with a long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. However, recent data shows emissions cuts have slowed, raising concerns about whether current efforts are sufficient.
Energy analysts, including those from think tank E3G, described fossil fuel roadmaps as more detailed than typical climate pledges because they outline a complete transition pathway for national economies. The French plan was highlighted as the first to clearly define an economy-wide exit from fossil fuels.
The initiative comes after proposals for a global fossil fuel roadmap were blocked at COP30, leading to the creation of the Santa Marta conference, co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands. Around 60 countries are attending, including major producers and developing nations, though no binding agreements are expected to be reached.
