French lawmaker demands supplementary budget for wildfire and climate action
Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- French lawmaker Éric Coquerel is calling for a supplementary budget law to fund efforts against climate change and large wildfires.
- He proposes taxing multinational corporations that have recently made significant profits, similar to measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Coquerel argues that immediate action is needed to procure firefighting equipment and address climate change impacts, rather than waiting until the next budget cycle.
French lawmaker Éric Coquerel, president of the National Assembly's Finance Committee, is urging the government to consider a supplementary finance bill to address the escalating costs associated with combating major wildfires and mitigating climate change. Coquerel, a member of the La France Insoumise (LFI) party, believes immediate action is necessary, particularly for procuring firefighting equipment.
Given the resources the country needs to tackle megafires, we cannot wait until January to launch equipment orders.
"Given the resources the country needs to tackle megafires, we cannot wait until January to launch equipment orders," Coquerel stated in an interview with Libération. He suggested that multinational corporations that have recently reaped substantial profits could be taxed to generate the necessary funds. "Everyone must make an effort. TotalEnergies is the French company that has made the most profits. They could largely pay a tax of 2 billion euros," he proposed, drawing a parallel to similar taxes implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Everyone must make an effort. TotalEnergies is the French company that has made the most profits. They could largely pay a tax of 2 billion euros.
Coquerel has been advocating for this supplementary budget since April, initially to adjust the 2026 budget for the economic consequences of the war in Iran. In June, following the first heatwave, he called for emergency measures like installing air conditioners in nursing homes, schools, and hospitals. "At that time, the first significant fire of the season was underway in the Pyrénées-Orientales. I was already saying that we could not wait until January 2027 to adjust the credits for firefighting," he added.
At that time, the first significant fire of the season was underway in the Pyrénées-Orientales. I was already saying that we could not wait until January 2027 to adjust the credits for firefighting.
Addressing concerns that his party might block the supplementary budget, Coquerel called for pragmatism. He argued that given the crises in Gironde and other departments, a consensus could be reached on the supplementary finance bill. He pointed out that the government has already allocated 9 billion euros in exceptional credits for the war in Iran, and exceeding 12 billion euros would necessitate a supplementary budget. "Between the heatwave and the fires, if we want to do something serious, we would far exceed those 12 billion euros," he estimated. Coquerel concluded by emphasizing that "if the situation is extraordinary, then an extraordinary session" of Parliament is required.
Between the heatwave and the fires, if we want to do something serious, we would far exceed those 12 billion euros.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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