Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally party in France, announced changes in her positions regarding climate change during the POLITICO Playbook Paris Live seminar. She stated that "climate change is not up for debate at all" and emphasized that some scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) may be optimistic.
Change of Approach in the National Rally Party
This shift in Le Pen's stance comes after a summer filled with heat and wildfires in France. In the past, some members of the National Rally party had raised opinions questioning the reality of climate change. However, now, Le Pen is trying to change her party's approach by emphasizing the reality of climate change.
In response to questions about various IPCC scenarios, she said: "The question raised was related to one of the very alarming scenarios" and this indicates that she is trying to moderate her critical stance towards some predictions.
France's Ability to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
Le Pen also pointed to France's ability to achieve its greenhouse gas reduction targets, stating that the country is in the "best position" to do so, particularly due to its nuclear power plants. She believes this feature helps France to get ahead of other countries.
However, Le Pen's positions continue to face criticism, and some experts claim that her statements regarding the IPCC are hardly verifiable. In 2023, she publicly declared that the IPCC has "always been alarming" and this claim remains controversial in public circles.
IPCC reports are prepared based on a scientific consensus on the climate situation and include comprehensive analyses of existing studies. Recent changes in the National Rally party's approach indicate that the party is trying to adapt to climate realities, especially considering the increasing public awareness of the dangers posed by climate change.
