This is a proposal that comes from the environmental group in the Senate. A commission of inquiry relating to the activities of the TotalEnergies group, in particular on the company’s “compliance” with “France’s climate obligations”, was proposed by the group.
The launch of this commission of inquiry must be confirmed by a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of the Senate on December 13. A formality. The law committee of the upper house will also be consulted to judge its admissibility.
Climate bonds
The commission of inquiry will focus on “the means mobilized and mobilized by the State to ensure that the TotalEnergies group takes into account and complies with climate obligations and the orientations of France’s foreign policy”, according to the proposed resolution. filed Tuesday by environmentalists.
“We see that COP28 is taking place in particular conditions, with an impact from oil and gas lobbies. We will not be able to decarbonize with this pressure from companies, like TotalEnergies or others, whose actions may raise questions,” explains the president of the environmental group Guillaume Gontard to AFP. “We must ensure that there are no activities abroad that conflict with France’s desire for decarbonization.”
Question financial investments
The commission of inquiry promises, according to the environmental group, “to investigate the responsibility of the French group” in particular regarding “non-compliance with France’s climate commitments”.
The group notes the importance of questioning TotalEnergies’ “financial investments” “that could fuel situations of corruption, armed conflicts, violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. Environmentalists also promise to “formulate recommendations to the government to enable action to be taken in regulating multinationals”.