Eco transition and sustainable development: French research is committed to act!

As the French ministry of research notes in this announcement, “national research entities, and higher education and research institutions are on the frontline” to reach carbon neutrality of France by 2050 “by complying with the Paris Climate Agreements, the Junming-Montreal agreement on biodiversity and in line with the UN Goals of Sustainable Development”.

Two pillars of commitment

The actions of the Ministry of research are in line with a great “plan for climate and biodiversity”, a plan designed to “support each stakeholder in this transition to answer the expectations of our citizens”. This plan expects French research entities to “work together to identify levers and to implement the conditions of the success of ecological transition in their institutions”.

And participants committed to rely on two pillars, research activities and changes in their working, to face the challenges of ecological transition for a sustainable development. According to the ministry, each research entity must “bring its share to the collective efforts to reach the ambitious objectives our country has determined in terms of reduction of carbon, energy and environmental print”, first by deploying their own blueprints directing their sustainable development of societal and environmental responsibility. In parallel to such entity blueprints, research programmes they initiate will have to also contribute to “the exploration and development of solutions to succeed in the ecological transition”.

Seven iconic commitments

The 16 signatories of this call, i.e. the most prestigious French research centres, chose to apply in their entity seven iconic commitments:

• programme and implement a research strategy taking into account all of its social and environmental impacts;
• support the production and spread of knowledge and innovation leading to solutions, in line with social challenges;
• design and lead the social responsibility policy of their entity;
• lead the transformation of their organisation by leveraging all their collective work;
• be a role model in the application of the government’s ecological planification objectives by the institution;
• every year, share progress and actions of transition implemented in their institution;
• develop international partnerships and interdisciplinary work about sustainability stakes.

The 16 signatories of this plan all represent the aspects of the excellence of French research. They are:

• the National Agency for Research (ANR in French);
• the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM);
• the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA);
• the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD);
• the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES);
• the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS);
• the Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER);
• the Institute for Advanced Studies for Science and Technology (IHEST);
• the National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED);
• the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE);
• the Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (INRIA);
• the Institute of health and medical research (INSERM);
• the Institute for Research and Development (IRD);
• the radioprotection and Nuclear Safety Institute (IRSN);
• the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN);
• Universciences group (Cité des sciences et de l'industrie et Palais de la découverte).