AGP Executive Report

Riviera Flooding: Storm Charles brought severe flooding and rockfalls to southern France, closing roads and leaving a man swept away in Nice. COP31 Finance: France joined 13 countries in signing the Antalya Statement, backing policies to expand international carbon-credit markets and attract private investment for climate action. Record Heat: October 2026 was the warmest October on record, according to NOAA, NASA and Europe’s Copernicus service.

Severe Weather: Storm Charles is bringing intense rain to south-east France, with up to 150mm forecast in parts of Provence and the Cévennes and winds reaching 140km/h on Corsica. Greener Cities: Paris has cut air pollution by 40% since 2014, added 1,300km of bike lanes and replaced riverside highways with parks; the Seine is now swimmable. Cleaner Chipmaking: CEA-Leti’s new Grenoble testing programme will help manufacturers assess ways to reduce emissions, waste and raw-material use in semiconductor production. Soil Health: A France-coordinated EU project will connect researchers and policymakers to turn soil science into practical policy, supporting the bloc’s goal of healthy or improving soils across 75% of its land by 2030. Solar Power: Sonnedix has acquired four operating solar plants in France, adding to the country’s renewable energy capacity.

COP31: UN chief António Guterres warned that the climate crisis is “outrunning” global action, as leaders debated clean power and fossil-fuel transition. French President Emmanuel Macron was among several European leaders who skipped the summit. Farming: A regenerative agriculture programme in Hauts-de-France has enrolled 175 farmers, offering funding and technical support to improve soil health; a wider effort spans France, Spain and Turkey. Clean Energy: Paris ranks first among EU capitals for rooftop solar generation potential, according to a new analysis. Climate Resilience: France and Switzerland are being urged to cooperate more closely on flood and drought risks, while southern France prepared for Storm Charles.

Storms: Southern France is bracing for Storm Charles, with heavy rain expected Thursday and two flights from Nice already cancelled. Climate Diplomacy: France’s absence from the COP31 leaders’ summit drew a “Fossil of the Day” award alongside eight other countries. UN chief António Guterres urged leaders to speed climate action and move away from fossil fuels, as talks focus on expanding electrification. Plastic Pollution: Turkey, the EU’s main destination for plastic waste, imported 510,000 tonnes from the bloc in 2025. Campaigners say dumped or burned waste is contaminating farmland and the Mediterranean; French-branded packaging has been found among the plastic debris.

COP31: France was among wealthy countries whose leaders skipped the summit’s leaders’ gathering and received Climate Action Network’s satirical “Fossil of the Day” award. Overseas Territories: An Expertise France-backed study identified five promising ways to finance climate projects, addressing territories’ exclusion from major funding because they are not sovereign states. Cleaner Aviation: DHL began using sustainable aviation fuel for cargo operations at Paris-CDG under a pact with TotalEnergies. Flood Resilience: A report calls for stronger cooperation between France and Switzerland to tackle floods and drought. Fossil Transition: Brazil presented a roadmap to help countries plan a shift away from coal, oil and gas, drawing support from several major fossil-fuel producers.

Climate Action: Global fossil-fuel emissions are forecast to fall 0.4% in 2026, helped by renewables and lower oil use during the Iran war. Researchers warn a geopolitical shock is no substitute for lasting cuts. COP31: Talks in Antalya are pushing a goal to raise electricity’s share of global energy use to 35% by 2035, but questions remain over feasibility and fossil-fuel commitments. French Industry: dsm-firmenich is ramping up production of pine-based bio-resins at its new plant in southwestern France, for use in adhesives and coatings. Plastic Pollution: European waste is piling up in Turkey, where campaigners say imports are polluting farmland and waterways; discarded packaging from French products was among the debris. Floods: Two people died in heavy rain and flooding in Corsica, as France faced severe weather on the island.

COP31: The climate summit has opened amid disputes over climate finance, with a UN report warning that a temporary overshoot of 1.5°C warming is now unavoidable. Delegates are also betting on electrification to accelerate climate action. French Energy and Pollution: A report says a French oil executive is working with the Trump administration to block Europe’s methane plan, while protests in France have targeted energy-hungry data centres. Water and Extreme Weather: Tankers are supplying drinking water to drought-hit villages in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and deadly floods in Corsica have underscored France’s exposure to extreme weather. Power Links: Guernsey is weighing a second undersea electricity cable, likely connecting directly to France by 2030, to strengthen supply resilience.

COP31 and Climate Extremes: As talks opened in Antalya, the WMO warned that 2026’s exceptional heat, record-warm oceans and rising seas point to a worsening climate threat, with El Niño expected to intensify impacts into 2027. Negotiators began with a dispute over climate finance for vulnerable countries. France’s Weather: Météo-France forecasts rain across much of the country this week, while temperatures rise above seasonal norms before easing. Water Stress: Tankers are delivering drinking water to drought-hit villages in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Dairy at Risk: A new forecast warns heat-related milk losses in Europe could nearly triple by 2050; French dairy regions are among those facing pressure on yields, cow welfare and supply.

Water Stress: Tankers are supplying villages in Creuse after a local water source fell short, leaving some residents with low pressure and occasional interruptions. Recent rain eased drought restrictions, but officials are still urging people to conserve water. Dairy & Heat: A new forecast warns heat-related milk losses in Europe could nearly triple by 2050; France is among the regions facing sharply rising risks. Solar Power: A cloudy, windless spell across Europe is testing the solar boom, with prolonged low output potentially pushing grids back toward gas.

Data Centre Backlash: French campaigners joined protests across 15 European countries against new large-scale data centres. Organizers want approvals paused, citing heavy demands on energy, water and land, and pressure on local communities. Flood Risk: Parts of southern France were placed on alert for heavy rain and flooding, underscoring the region’s exposure to extreme weather. Clean-Tech Innovation: A Normandy company has developed solar glass designed to withstand hail, targeting a weather risk for solar installations. Urban Nature: A new park in La Rochelle will bring more trees to the city while highlighting its maritime history.

Data-centre backlash: Protesters in Corbehem joined a Europe-wide campaign against energy-hungry data centres, citing environmental and social costs. France was among 15 countries involved. COP31: As climate talks open in Turkey, former French negotiator Paul Watkinson warns that disputes over finance and fossil fuels make a breakthrough unlikely, though he says the summit must deliver progress. Alpine landscapes: Écrins National Park offers more than 430 miles of trails amid glaciers, high-altitude lakes and mountain villages, drawing hikers to one of France’s largest protected areas.

Data-centre pushback: Protesters occupied a Microsoft construction site in Amsterdam as part of a Europe-wide campaign that included France, demanding a halt to large projects over their heavy electricity and water use. Climate impacts: Two people died in flooding in Corsica after heavy rain; the European Commission has allocated €113 million for flood and cyclone recovery in France and Slovakia. Resilient renewables: Normandy company Aurys Industries has developed 3mm solar glass designed to withstand hailstones up to 5cm across, aiming to protect panels as severe storms intensify. Urban nature: La Rochelle is building a 1.4-hectare coastal park with a saltwater pond, pollinator garden, meadow and mini-forest, due to open in 2027. Warming outlook: The EU climate service warns 2026 is on track to be the second-warmest year on record.

Extreme Weather: Flooding in Corsica killed two people, and heavy-rain alerts were raised across southern France; forecasters expect calmer conditions ahead. Climate Talks: COP31 opens in Turkey on November 9 amid disputes over fossil fuels and climate finance, with little expectation of a major breakthrough. Warming: The EU climate service says 2026 is on track to be the world’s second-warmest year on record. Winter Outlook: Météo-France reports an unusually early weakening of the polar vortex, but its effects on France remain uncertain.

Climate: Copernicus says 2026 is almost certain to be the second-warmest year on record, with global temperatures again exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. A UN report says nearly 90 million displaced people face severe climate hazards. Floods in France: Storms brought deadly flooding to Corsica, where two people died; calmer weather is forecast, though flood alerts remain in parts of the south. Farming: Heat and drought are expected to cut France’s apple harvest by 14%. The wine forecast has been raised to 36.7 million hectolitres, but remains 10% below the recent five-year average. Circular economy: Paris-based Releaf is turning fallen leaves into paper fibres, working with existing producers to scale up the alternative material.

Flood Risk: Heavy rain and powerful storms prompted flood alerts in parts of southern France. Fisheries: The European Commission proposed lower catch limits for depleted Atlantic stocks, including fisheries in the Bay of Biscay, to ease pressure and support recovery. Climate and Public Spending: French unions’ nationwide strike demands included action on environmental challenges; rail unions warned proposed budget cuts could dry up investment needed for environmental measures. Climate-Smart Farming: France’s asparagus sector is taking steps to address climate-related challenges.

Car Emissions: European lawmakers have backed a softer 2035 emissions target for new cars, allowing manufacturers more flexibility. The proposal still needs approval to become law. Nature Protection: Environmental groups warn the EU may weaken nature laws, despite opposition from member states and more than a million citizens. Climate-Smart Farming: France’s asparagus sector is taking steps to tackle climate-related challenges. Clean Air: Changes to several French low-emission zones are planned for 2027.