French court orders government to act on climate in next nine months

Council of State says it will assess state's actions after 31 March 2022, and could issue substantial fines

France's top administrative court has ordered the government to take all necessary additional steps" within the next nine months to enable it to reach its climate crisis targets or face possible sanctions, including substantial fines.

The Council of State said in a final ruling published on Thursday, with no possibility for appeal by the government, that France was not on track to meet its goal of achieving a 40% cut in emissions from 1990 levels by 2030.