Climate and Resilience Law: key points to remember
Adopted in the summer of 2021, the Climate and Resilience Act marks a major turning point in French environmental policy. Directly resulting from the work of the Citizens' Climate Convention, it aims to enshrine in law the ecological transition and carbon neutrality targets that France has set itself for 2050. Through its numerous provisions, this ambitious law reflects a clear political will: to make French society more resilient to climate change, while supporting public and private actors in their transition to a low-carbon economy.
In concrete terms, the Climate and Resilience Act focuses on measures relating to consumption, mobility, energy renovation, soil preservation, and environmental governance. It is in line with other major legislative frameworks such as the AGEC law (anti-waste for a circular economy) and the decrees implementing the Environment Code, thus forming a coherent body of environmental standards supporting a structured ecological transition.
But beyond regulatory obligations, this law primarily establishes a new framework for action for businesses and local authorities. From now on, every economic player must not only measure its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but also define a realistic low-carbon trajectory and monitor it over time. This requirement is reinforced by the implementation of European measures such as the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and ETS carbon surcharges, which impose greater transparency and consistency in the fight against climate change.
In this context, many organizations are now seeking to combine regulatory compliance with environmental performance. This is where new digital and collaborative tools come in, capable of supporting companies in their energy transition plans and carbon management. Among them, Decarbo'Solution®, developed by Global Climate Initiatives (GCI), stands out as an integrated and pragmatic approach to helping organizations calculate, reduce, and offset their GHG emissions. Using modules such as Decarbo'Target®, Decarbo'Supply®, and Decarbo'Tender®, this solution perfectly illustrates the logic behind the Climate and Resilience Law : to make climate change no longer a constraint, but a lever for competitiveness and sustainable resilience.
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A landmark law for ecological change in France
From the Citizens' Climate Convention to the bill
The Climate and Resilience Law is the result of a long process of democratic consultation. Based on 149 proposals from the Citizens' Climate Convention, it was adopted by the National Assembly in August 2021, against a backdrop of global climate emergency. This climate emergency has led the government to rethink its environmental strategy based on the conclusions of the Citizens' Convention.
Its ambition is clear: to transform France's environmental commitments into concrete obligations applicable at all levels of society—citizens, businesses, and public institutions.
Based on the principles of the National Low-Emission Strategy and the Climate Plan, this law aims to embed environmental resilience in public policy for the long term. It commits the country to action on several fronts: reducing greenhouse gases, preserving natural resources, protecting ecosystems, and adapting production methods to new ecological standards.
This reform is also part of a broader effort to ensure legislative consistency. It complements other major texts such as the AGEC law and the Environment Code, the Climate and Resilience Law strengthens the existing legal arsenal, making it more operational and more in tune with the realities on the ground.
The law's ambitions: climate, energy, and environmental performance
Beyond the broad principles, the law focuses on implementing specific measures in key areas: mobility, construction, consumption, and energy.
Its objective is twofold: to reduce emissions at source while improving the energy performance of buildings, transport, and public infrastructure.
It also introduces new environmental standards that apply to both businesses and local authorities. Economic actors must now demonstrate better management of their environmental impact, in particular through measurable and verifiable action plans.
The Climate and Resilience Act also promotes a profound cultural shift: rethinking the way we produce, purchase, and consume. It encourages moderation, sustainability, and cooperation between different economic sectors to promote a model that is more in harmony with planetary boundaries.
In this context, the government relies on support mechanisms such as the National Council for Ecological Transition, which is responsible for monitoring and ensuring the consistency of these measures across the country.
A strengthened legal and institutional framework
In regulatory terms, the law is part of a demanding European and national dynamic. A decree now specifies each obligation imposed on public and private actors in the implementation of environmental provisions. Decree 2022-982, the CSRD, and the Emissions Trading System (ETS) directive complement this framework by requiring a more detailed assessment of environmental impacts and greater transparency of results.
Article L. 2111-3 of the Public Procurement Code, for example, makes it mandatory to take environmental criteria into account in public procurement contracts. Local authorities must incorporate these requirements into their SPASER (socially and environmentally responsible procurement plans) in order to favor the most virtuous service providers. A dedicated portal, supported by the National Climate Council, centralizes useful information and allows users to track the progress of commitments made at the local level.
This development is creating a new dynamic of environmental responsibility: companies are now encouraged to review their management methods, measure their impact more accurately, and commit to continuous improvement initiatives.
It is in this context that innovative solutions such as Decarbo'Solution®, developed by Global Climate Initiatives (GCI), come into their own. This approach equips organizations to implement their environmental obligations: impact assessment, corrective action planning, and sustainable performance management. It is fully in line with the spirit of the law: giving each player the means to adapt, progress, and make their commitments measurable.
Concrete measures for a more resilient and energy-efficient France
Combating land artificialization and preserving natural spaces
Title IV of the Climate and Resilience Act sets an ambitious goal: to achieve zero net land artificialization by 2050. This commitment aims to slow down the disappearance of agricultural and forest land, while revitalizing degraded areas.
Articles relating to land use planning strengthen the role of local authorities, which are now required to gradually reduce the amount of land covered by artificial surfaces. This implies a revision of urban planning law so that new projects are justified by a genuine public interest need.
To support this initiative, the government has set up a national land use portal, a powerful tool for monitoring land data. Thanks to this platform, it is now possible to measure changes in land consumption and guide local decision-making.
This approach illustrates a profound change: land-use planning is no longer just an administrative act, but a lever for land conservation and protection of natural heritage. It also encourages the rehabilitation of brownfield sites, rather than urban sprawl, to preserve soil as a living material essential to the resilience of territories.
Better production, better transportation, and better housing
Title II of the law focuses on lifestyles and energy consumption in all sectors: industry, mobility, and housing.
The articles relating to housing introduce a real change in the regulatory framework. Owners of energy-intensive properties must now undertake improvement work or face a ban on renting them out. These provisions, enshrined in French law, reflect a strong commitment to combating energy poverty while improving the quality of the housing stock.
The transport sector is also affected. The law promotes the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles by setting specific targets for the renewal of public and private fleets. Each region must adapt its charging infrastructure, encouraged by financial support measures. The objective is clear: to reduce the use of fossil fuels and promote more sustainable and accessible mobility.
In the industrial sector, companies are encouraged to review their manufacturing processes. They must prioritize materials with low environmental impact and adopt more energy-efficient processes. The articles relating to environmental performance introduce new reporting and transparency requirements to ensure compliance with the objectives set by the government.
To meet these requirements, some organizations are turning to innovative digital tools. Decarbo’Target® and Decarbo’Supply®, integrated into GCI's Decarbo’Solution®, support economic actors in implementing measurable action plans: prioritization, progress monitoring, supplier engagement, and results simulation. These tools facilitate a structured approach that complies with national energy performance legislation, public procurement regulations, and responsible practices.
Shared governance and collective responsibility
The success of the Climate and Resilience Act depends on multi-level governance. The government, local authorities, businesses, and citizens must work together to ensure that the objectives set out in the Act are achieved.
The articles relating to governance provide for the creation of a monitoring committee responsible for evaluating public policies and proposing adjustments where necessary. This approach reinforces shared responsibility and promotes better coordination between local and national actors.
In the economic world, the partnership dimension is also essential. Public tenders now include mandatory environmental criteria. The Decarbo’Tender® solution, developed by GCI, illustrates this evolution: it helps buyers integrate specific indicators into their procedures, based on recognized standards. This approach supports positive discrimination in favor of the most responsible companies, without complicating procedures.
The spirit of the text is therefore based on a balance between constraints and support: it is not just a question of imposing rules, but of giving stakeholders the means to act. Digital tools such as those offered by GCI are a concrete expression of this philosophy: simplifying implementation, harmonizing practices, and strengthening trust between all stakeholders in sustainable development.
The Climate and Resilience Act is now one of the most influential pieces of contemporary environmental legislation. By revising several articles relating to land use planning, housing, transportation, and the economy, it redefines the framework within which public and private actors must operate. This reform marks a desire to rethink the way in which our activities fit into the long term and into the preservation of the environment.
This text does not merely set out obligations. Above all, it seeks to establish a new culture of shared responsibility. Local authorities, businesses, and citizens are now invited to act in a coordinated manner, with a focus on efficiency and consistency. Measures relating toland artificialization, the renovation of old housing, the development of less polluting vehicles, and the reduction of industrial emissions reflect this collective ambition: to adopt more sober practices without compromising competitiveness or quality of life.
Digital tools play a decisive role in supporting this transition. Organizations must be able to understand their impact, prioritize their actions, and justify their compliance with national law. In this area, Decarbo’Solution®, developed by Global Climate Initiatives (GCI), is a concrete lever for change. Using its Decarbo'Target®, Decarbo'Supply®, and Decarbo'Tender® modules, it enables organizations to analyze practices, involve partners, and structure reliable action plans that are fully in line with the expectations of the government and institutional actors.
Ultimately, this law paves the way for a profound transformation: that of a society learning to combine progress and restraint, innovation and responsibility. It calls for the construction of a more balanced development model, where every public or economic decision is based on measurable, transparent, and equitable criteria. It is this pragmatic approach, supported by solutions such as those proposed by GCI, that will enable our country to tackle the climate challenge in a sustainable manner, with clarity and ambition.