François Ruffin, a presidential candidate and leader of the political movement Debout !, has made "ecological labor" a central theme of his campaign, arguing that meaningful work is key to addressing the climate crisis. A deputy representing the Somme, Ruffin left the left-wing party La France insoumise in 2024 and now sits in the National Assembly as part of an ecological and social group. He plans to release a campaign booklet titled "Ecological Labor" on September 10, 2026, along with a collective work called "For a Climate War Economy," co-edited with engineer Vincent Burnand-Galpin. Ruffin has described the summer of 2026 as one of extreme weather, with record-breaking heat, severe droughts, and repeated wildfires. He criticized current leaders for failing to protect vulnerable communities and manage environmental risks. He identified three major challenges facing France: maintaining industrial and agricultural capacity for national self-sufficiency, caring for an aging population, and transforming the country’s approach to housing, transport, energy, and industries to meet global climate goals. To combat the climate crisis, Ruffin emphasized the importance of work in areas like renovating energy-inefficient buildings, shifting freight transport to rail, and reducing chemical use in farming. He proposed the creation of "non-commercial centers" where people could access repair workshops, tool libraries, and second-hand stores, promoting sustainability over consumerism. On the issue of employment, he acknowledged that capitalism has historically led to job losses but argued for preparing workers for future roles by integrating skills like cooking, gardening, and repair into high school curricula. Ruffin also proposed a new model for corporate governance, where company boards would include one-third employees, one-third capital holders, and one-third representatives from NGOs, local officials, and consumer groups. He suggested redirecting life insurance savings to support industrial and environmental projects, estimating that 4% of France’s 2,000 billion euros in life insurance could fund 80 billion euros in green investments. In agriculture, he supported reducing meat consumption but focused on quality over quantity, promoting organic farming with guaranteed markets and logistical support, especially in overseas territories. Ruffin has shifted his stance on nuclear energy, now supporting the continuation of six EPR2 reactors with improved safety and reduced subcontracting. He also called for a temporary halt on data center projects, criticizing France’s role as a digital hub for global tech giants and proposing a citizen referendum on the issue. Regarding left-wing politics, he expressed disappointment in the lack of unity among left-wing candidates and criticized systemic racism, calling for a pause on identity checks, which he views as discriminatory. On immigration, he supported a humanistic approach, advocating for a France that welcomes immigrants and ensures public services are available to them.