2025 Nears Hottest Year Record Amid France’s Challenges in Renewable Energy Development

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2025 is on track to become the second hottest year ever recorded, matching 2023 and following the extreme heat of 2024. November 2025 was the third warmest November on record with a global average temperature of 14.02°C, 0.65°C above the 1991-2020 average. The year has seen average temperatures from January to November rise approximately 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels, signaling a concerning trend in global warming linked to human-induced climate change. This warming has led to more frequent and severe extreme weather events worldwide, including devastating tropical cyclones in Southeast Asia.

In France, these climate pressures coincide with evolving energy dynamics. Fossil fuels still account for nearly 60% of energy consumption, but a transition towards electrification is emerging as a potential mitigation strategy. However, the French electricity grid operator RTE has recently lowered its forecasts for electricity consumption and production capacity through 2035, signaling a potential slowdown in the expansion of renewable energy sources like onshore wind and solar. RTE warns that without increased electricity uptake replacing fossil fuels, the rapid growth of renewables might have to be curtailed.

This development reflects the complex balancing act France faces: adapting energy strategies to align with environmental imperatives amid uncertain demand. While France aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift away from fossil fuels, the absence of a strong global consensus for fossil fuel phase-out, as noted at COP30, complicates progress.

Samantha Burgess from Copernicus underlines the urgency of cutting emissions to avoid further temperature rises, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laments the ongoing failure to decisively limit warming to 1.5°C.

Overall, 2025’s record-breaking warmth underscores the immediate need for accelerated climate action internationally, with France’s recalibrated energy outlook demonstrating the challenges of transitioning to sustainable sources amidst fluctuating demand and policy uncertainties.