On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Jean-François Soussana, president of the High Council for the Climate, and member Diane Strauss testified before the finance committee of the National Assembly. They stressed the importance of approving the 2027 state budget to ensure continued investment in the climate transition. The High Council for the Climate is an independent organization responsible for assessing how well the government is meeting its climate commitments, both within France and internationally. Diane Strauss warned that failing to adopt the budget would severely hinder France's climate goals. She pointed to potential consequences, such as the suspension of the MaPrimeRenov' program, which helps fund home energy renovations, and the Green Fund, which supports environmental projects. She also highlighted the risk of delays in major infrastructure projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions and new initiatives under the France 2030 plan. Strauss noted that without the budget, the government would struggle to respond to crises like agricultural or forest emergencies, and regional agreements would lack necessary funding. Local communities could also suffer, as grants for investment would be unavailable. Strauss argued that passing the budget this year is essential, but ecologist deputy Tristan Lahais disagreed. He criticized the approach, saying democracy should not be constrained by such tactics. Lahais's group is expected to support a motion of censure against the government during the budget debates. Jean-François Soussana painted a dire picture of the climate situation, noting that the global temperature threshold of +1.5°C, beyond which climate risks become extreme, is likely to be crossed soon. In 2025, the global average temperature was already at +1.4°C. He emphasized that Europe is warming faster than other regions, with temperatures in mainland France and overseas territories now +2.2°C higher than they were in the 1900s. The summer of 2026 was recorded as the hottest on record. Soussana explained that rising temperatures have led to a rapid increase in the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, which are transmitted by insects that survive milder winters. He warned that current adaptation efforts are inadequate and that France is not prepared for the impacts of climate change. He noted that the rate of CO2 emission reductions has slowed, with declines of -6.8% in 2023, -3% in 2024, and -2.1% in 2025. To meet France's third carbon budget, the reduction rate needs to increase to -4% annually from 2026 to 2028. Soussana urged lawmakers to "change scale" in the policies they plan to implement.