Article 29 of the Energy and Climate Law (Loi n. 2019-1147), Implementing Decree 2021-663 of 27 May 2021

Article 12 prohibits advertisers from claiming that a product or service is carbon neutral, or any equivalent term, unless they publish a full life-cycle GHG emissions report, an emissions reduction trajectory and the offsetting methodology used. Breaches carry fines of up to EUR 100,000, raisable to the full cost of the advertising campaign.

Enforcement

Mandatory

Effective date

Law: 24 August 2021; carbon-neutrality rules: 1 January 2023

Covered entities

Any advertiser making carbon neutrality or equivalent claims (zero carbon, climate neutral, fully offset) for products or services in France

In-scope parent and ordering companies must establish, publish, and effectively implement a vigilance plan covering risk mapping, supplier and subcontractor assessment, mitigation actions, an alert mechanism, and a monitoring scheme addressing human rights, health and safety, and environmental harm across the group and established business relationships. Any party with standing can give formal notice and, after three months of non-compliance, seek a court injunction and damages.

Enforcement

Mandatory

Effective date

27 March 2017; first vigilance plans required for FY2017

Covered entities

French-headquartered companies that, for two consecutive years, employ at least 5,000 employees in France (parent and direct/indirect subsidiaries) or at least 10,000 employees worldwide.

The TNFD Recommendations set out 14 disclosure recommendations covering governance, strategy, risk and impact management, and metrics and targets for nature-related risks and opportunities, structured to align with the TCFD and ISSB. Adoption is voluntary, with the LEAP approach offered as the assessment method.

Enforcement

Voluntary

Effective date

18 September 2023

Covered entities

Any organisation, financial or non-financial, that chooses to adopt the framework. Over 500 organisations have committed as TNFD Adopters

The Act sets up a national voluntary market for biodiversity certificates, with each certificate carrying standardised information on the area, project type, threatened species and duration of the work. Participants must follow biodiversity integrity standards and notify the regulator of significant reversals.

Enforcement

Voluntary participation, mandatory rules for participants

Effective date

15 December 2023

Covered entities

Landholders, Indigenous land managers and proponents who choose to register biodiversity projects and issue Biodiversity Certificates; buyers in the voluntary market

The Guidelines set MAS' supervisory expectations for identifying, assessing, monitoring and disclosing environmental risks, expressly covering climate, pollution, land-use change and biodiversity loss. Boards and senior management must integrate these risks into governance, strategy and risk management.

Enforcement

Guidance (supervisory expectations, comply-or-explain in practice)

Effective date

8 December 2020 (issued); 18-month transition to June 2022

Covered entities

All banks, merchant banks and finance companies; insurers; asset managers regulated by MAS

The ISSB is developing incremental nature-related disclosure requirements that will supplement IFRS S1 and IFRS S2, drawing on the TNFD Recommendations. The Board is targeting an Exposure Draft before CBD COP17 in October 2026.

Enforcement

Voluntary until adopted by jurisdictions

Effective date

Exposure Draft expected 2026; final standard to follow

Covered entities

Companies applying IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards; scope to be defined in the Exposure Draft