In a stunning setback to the French government, Nicolas Hulot has announced his resignation. He said he felt "all alone" while trying to advance green policies in the government.
Image: picture-alliance/S. Henri
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French Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot on Tuesday announced his resignation on France Inter radio, saying it was the result of an "accumulation of disappointments."
The French government's lack of progress on steps to tackle climate change, defend biodiversity and address environmental threats resulted in an "accumulation of disappointments."
"I don't want to lie any longer. I don't want to maintain the illusion that my presence in government means that we are meeting these environmental challenges."
"France is doing more than a lot of other countries. Do not make me say that it is doing enough. It is not doing enough. Europe is not doing enough. The world is not doing enough.
"I have a bit of influence, but I have no power and no means."
But Hulot suggested that Macron's government has paid little more than lip service to environmental issues. He highlighted, for example, the government's pledges to cut back reliance on nuclear energy to 50 percent by 2025 and to curb the use of pesticides, and said there had been little progress on several other initiatives.
French President Emmanuel Macron (right) even planted a tree on the White House lawn with US President Donald Trump (center), with some observers saying it was a jab at Washington's approach to climate changeImage: AFP/Getty Images/J. Watson
Who is Nicolas Hulot? Dubbed "France's most famous environmental activist," Hulot is a longtime campaigner for green policies and a former TV celebrity. Past French presidents, including Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, had approached him for the Environment Ministry. However, he rejected offers to join the government until Emmanuel Macron came along.
Hulot has consistently scored high in popularity polls, even after Macron's approval ratings started to plunge. An Ifop poll suggested that 64 percent of French nationals have a favorable opinion of Hulot.
Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told BFM news channel that Hulot should have warned Macron and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe before announcing his resignation.
"Do you do an environmental revolution in one year? The response is no," said Griveaux. "I prefer little steps to not moving."
Observers have suggested that Hulot's departure could cause further shakeup within the government and prompt Macron to reshuffle his cabinet.
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Image: Daniel Müller/Greenpeace
The age of plastic
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Rivers of plastic
Much plastic enters marine habitats through rivers like, the Yangtze, the Indus, the Ganges, Pearl River, and the Mekong. These rivers run through highly populated areas with a lack of adequate waste disposal infrastructure. Here, a fisherman in the Philippines removes a fish and crab trap from plastic-filled waters.
Image: picture-alliance/Pacific Press/G. B. Dantes
A plastic welcome to the world
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Image: picture-alliance/Ritzau Scanpix
Deadly consequences
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Image: picture-alliance/Photoshot/Balance
Eating plastic
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Image: Reuters
Visible and invisible plastic
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Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
An end in sight?
Tentative measures to cut down on disposable plastic have already been taken in some African countries with bans on plastic bags, while the European Union is looking into prohibiting single-use plastic products. But if current trends continue, scientists believe there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic on the planet by 2050.
