France’s Macron to get hybrid presidential car

Emmanuel Macron has made a priority of tackling climate change

Environment minister Elisabeth Borne said Mr Macron's new car will have a rechargeable battery. EPA

French President Emmanuel Macron is getting a hybrid armoured car as part of a raft of plans to curb carbon emissions announced by his government on Wednesday.

Other measures being planned include an annual €200 (Dh800) bonus for civil servants who switch to bicycles or car sharing for their rides to work.

France’s environment minister Elisabeth Borne said the measure would kick in in July.

The country will also stop buying throwaway plastics from July and use at least 20 per cent organic ingredients in civil servants’ canteens, the minister said after a government meeting that was focused on reducing the environmental footprint of France’s large public sector.

All government ministers will be switched over to electric or hybrid-engine rechargeable vehicles, and they’ll be encouraged to take trains instead of planes for non-emergency trips under four hours, Ms Borne told France Info radio.

The French president is expected to announce reinforced efforts to protect Mont Blanc, western Europe’s highest peak, on Thursday. He will also visit a glacier that, like others across the Alps, is shrinking dramatically.

Ms Borne is going with President Macron on that visit to the Alps. She said they will travel by plane.

Scientists say global emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants have to start falling rapidly as soon as possible to meet the Paris climate accord’s goal of keeping global warming by the end of the century well below 2°C, and ideally 1.5°C.