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UK-France Climate Collaboration: Twin Engines Powering Europe’s Green Transition

As concerns about the global climate take centre stage politically and socially, Britain and France are taking new steps to strengthen their relationship. Based on their shared position as leaders in European industry, both nations are increasing efforts to decarbonise and move toward sustainable energy systems. Geopolitical instability and economic fluctuations have further incentivised this transformation of the Entente Cordiale into a more developed and committed partnership dedicated to tackling global issues with climate at the core. The recent UK-France summit in London was the most visible affirmation of this, with broad issues discussed, from defence to industry, to climate change. 

The UK is one of the world’s leading nations in climate action, as the first country to pass legally binding climate change legislation first in 2008 and then again in 2019 when the UK was the first developed country to commit to Net Zero by 2050. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar have become central to the UK energy industry, and coal has been almost eliminated. Nuclear energy has also grown in importance, exemplified by the soon-to-open reactor at Hinckley Point C in Somerset and the proposed Sizewell C station. With more than £5 billion available in national funding to support businesses in achieving Net Zero goals, along with devolved funds in Scotland, public resources and infrastructure are strongly aligned with climate challenges. 

Like the UK, France is also committed to reaching Net Zero by 2050. It pursues this goal through a centralised approach, having established the High Council on Climate, a panel of experts that informs and guides climate policy. The HCC, alongside the General Secretariat for Ecological Planning, coordinates French environmental policy and links it to broader EU strategies. 

At the heart of French climate policy are nuclear and renewable energy, with France as a global leader in nuclear dependency. However, France still imports large quantities of fossil fuels. Moving away from fossil fuels and towards greater decarbonisation is central to France 2030, the new long-term industrial strategy. France aims to fund research, development, and deployment of solar and wind farms, as well as long-term storage technologies to ensure renewables are a reliable and secure energy source. These objectives include renewing existing nuclear infrastructure and expanding capacity. Foremost in these efforts is France’s leading nuclear enterprise, the state-owned EDF, which owns EDF Energy, the company responsible for the UK’s new reactor. 

The presence of EDF at the core of both countries’ nuclear sectors exemplifies the deepening industrial ties between the UK and France. These ties are now being formalised through the Joint Industrial Strategy Partnership announced at the recent UK–France summit. This groundbreaking partnership reflects a shared understanding that climate resilience must now be integrated into industrial and economic policies. 

Another feature of the revitalised UK-France partnership is the agreement to develop a joint roadmap for carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS). Both countries see CCUS as essential for decarbonising heavy industry, and as a key tool in building a low-carbon economy that protects jobs. The partnership commits to exchanging best practices, coordinating research, and identifying infrastructure opportunities, particularly as both nations look to retrofit existing industrial zones with greener technologies. 

These policies are supported by shared plans to develop sustainable supply chains for critical minerals vital for the deployment of batteries, wind turbines, and other clean technologies. By aligning methodologies to map supply chain vulnerabilities, the UK and France are positioning themselves to reduce strategic dependencies on volatile global markets. This is especially urgent given recent energy security lessons and the rapid growth in demand for lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. 

These ambitions will be monitored and supported by a proposed shared investment platform designed to enhance dialogue between key agencies. The annual meetings between the UK Department for Business and Trade and France’s Direction Generale des Entreprises will now oversee the climate-related aspects of the partnership, ensuring that climate remains not just a pillar but a driving force in the bilateral relationship. 

Crucially, the private sector has not been sidelined. The French Chambers’ UK–France Business Forum, as specified in the Joint Declaration, will play a central role in translating political commitments into commercial action with participants attending from across the public and private sector.  

In advance of the next meeting of the Business Forum in 2026, the Chamber is to host it’s very first Franco-British Business Conference. A dedicated energy panel will bring together leaders in business, finance, and technological innovation from both sides of the Channel to shape climate-aligned industrial policies, scale up investments in renewables and green infrastructure, and identify opportunities.  

Britian and France’s partnership is not merely about improving bilateral relations but is a symbol of the cooperation needed to face today's global challenges. Few countries are better suited to collaborate than the historic partners of the UK and France. By embedding green policies within industrial coordination, investment platforms, and cross-border business cooperation, the UK and France are redefining what it means to pursue climate goals. 

Looking ahead, the success of this partnership will be measured not only through new energy infrastructure or emissions reductions but also by the strength of the institutions created to sustain joint climate ambitions. From CCUS roadmaps to business collaboration, supply chain mapping to AI deployment, this represents climate cooperation with a tangible delivery mechanism and a long-term political mandate. These issues and more are to be analysed by our expert panellists at the Franco-British Business Conference which will take place on 18th September. With tickets nearly sold out, this is the last chance to attend the headline conference for cross-channel business.                        

In an era where international cooperation can often appear fragile, the UK and France are making climate policy a shared industrial project- a move that is both pragmatic and a clear statement.  

Article written by Kit MacLean, Policy and Advocacy Intern at the French Chamber of Great Britain