Christophe Béchu, the French Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, was quick to point out the striking figures: €7 billion in payment credits for the climate transition, €10 billion including spending commitment authorizations and a total of €40 billion for a green budget, including building renovation, decarbonization of transport and biodiversity. "This is an unprecedented effort on the part of the French government, which will enable us to keep pace with the deployment of ecological planning on all fronts," he said.

There are others, less impressive but just as important. "For the first time in 20 years," the Ministry's workforce is on the rise. At the presentation of the draft finance bill (PLF) on Wednesday, September 27, Béchu announced that the number of jobs in the ministries (ecology, energy) and operators would increase by 760 by 2024. This will bring the total number of staff to around 70,000, including 47,000 at the Ministry and 23,000 in agencies.

"This is good news, of course, but it doesn't make up for the 20% drop in staff numbers over the last 10 years. We don't have enough agents in the field," said Véronique Caraco-Giordano, general secretary of the National Environmental Union (SNE-FSU). Ivan Candé, general secretary of the CGT National Equipment and Environment Federation, also put things into perspective. "It's an increase of less than 1% in headcount, compared with previous declines. We can't take this as an account balance, with the reorganization of services continuing, and the transfer of missions to local authorities," said the union leader. All the Ministry's unions are preparing to demonstrate at the next budget administration social committee, the equivalent of a social and environmental committee in the private sector on October 2, when the PLF will be presented to them.

All priority sectors of the climate transition will be provided with additional staff: 170 workers for energy-efficient home renovation, including more than 50 for the National Housing Agency, and more than 100 in decentralized services. Over 100 jobs will be created for biodiversity, including 47 at the French Biodiversity Office, 13 at the Coastal Conservatory and 10 in the national parks. Sixty-six new posts will also be allocated to water agencies. The agency for the climate transition, ADEME, has been given around 100 additional jobs, as have the weather-forecasting agency Météo France (25 positions) and Cerema, the center of expertise serving the regions (10 jobs).

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