France and the United States held the first meeting of the U.S.-France Bilateral Clean Energy Partnership (Partnership) on December 14, 2021 in Paris.
This meeting was the first meeting to implement the commitment reaffirmed in October by the President of the United States and the President of the French Republic to closer bilateral and transatlantic cooperation. Both Presidents confirmed they would continue to address the climate crisis by supporting the aims of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-26) to accelerate the global net-zero transition and through, among other approaches and activities, launching a « U.S.-France Bilateral Clean Energy Partnership » by the end of 2021.
This Partnership is set up under the auspices of the?U.S. Department of Energy?and the U.S. Department of State?for the United States and of the?Ministry for the Ecological Transition?and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs?for France. It aims to address: (i) energy policy, technology, and innovation; and (ii) diplomatic efforts to accelerate energy transitions and achieve climate objectives.
Some of the major topic areas covered by the Partnership include nuclear?energy, scientific research and development (R&D), development and deployment of clean energy technologies, and responsible and sustainable clean energy supply chains. The Partnership also provides a framework to discuss coordination of efforts in multilateral energy forums and organizations, coordination of efforts to ensure stability in global energy markets, climate diplomacy, and private sector engagement.
This Partnership illustrates our countries' common goals and shared resolve to fight climate change. We will work towards reaching the ambitious target set forth by the Paris Agreement, as pledged in the May 2021 joint statement by Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm of the U.S. Department of Energy and Minister Barbara Pompili of the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition.
Held just after COP26, this first meeting of the Partnership resulted in broad exchanges on clean energy policy in both countries, including efforts to decrease energy consumption, reduce emissions, and support the?transition to a low-carbon?economy. Both countries recognized the importance of leveraging technological innovation and market deployment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Opportunities for advanced partnerships and collaborations between the United States and France were discussed. In the short term, both countries agreed to further explore synergies in the fields of the development and deployment of clean energy technologies; the role of nuclear and renewable energies, including small modular reactors, in global energy systems; decarbonized energy storage solutions such as batteries and hydrogen; and coordination of efforts in multilateral energy forums and organizations.
The next meeting of the Partnership is planned to be held in Washington DC in 2022.