Santa Marta, Colombia
France has published a comprehensive national roadmap outlining how it will gradually phase out fossil fuels across its economy, setting clear timelines to eliminate coal, oil and gas over the next three decades.
The roadmap, released by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, was unveiled during a global conference on fossil fuel transition in Santa Marta, Colombia.
According to the plan, France will end the use of coal by 2030, phase out oil by 2045, and eliminate fossil gas by 2050.
Officials say the document consolidates existing climate and energy policies into a single, structured strategy aimed at achieving carbon neutrality while reducing dependence on imported energy.
French authorities described the roadmap as a “first-of-its-kind” framework that provides a clear trajectory for ending fossil fuel use across all sectors of the economy, including transport, buildings, industry and agriculture.
The strategy emphasises electrification as a central pillar of the transition, encouraging industries, small businesses and households to replace fossil-fuel-based systems with electric alternatives. This includes machinery, heating systems and transport technologies.
The roadmap builds on France’s broader energy strategy for 2026–2035, which aims to significantly expand low-carbon electricity production while sharply reducing fossil fuel consumption.
At the same time, France intends to increase its reliance on carbon-free energy sources, including nuclear and renewables, tp support electrification and meet rising energy demand.
Analysts say the roadmap does not introduce entirely new targets but instead strengthens policy coherence by aligning existing commitments under a unified timeline. They note that its clarity sends a strong political signal at a time when many countries are still struggling to define concrete fossil fuel exit strategies.
The announcement comes as more than 50 countries gather in Colombia for the first international conference dedicated specifically to phasing out fossil fuels in an effort seen as filling gaps left by previous global climate negotiations.
Despite its ambition, challenges remain. Fossil fuels still account for a significant share of France’s overall energy consumption, particularly in transport, which remains the country’s largest source of emissions.
Officials say the success of the roadmap will depend on sustained investment, technological innovation and public acceptance, as well as coordinated action across sectors.
The plan positions France among a growing group of nations attempting to translate long-standing climate commitments into detailed, time-bound pathways for ending fossil fuel use.
