French Government Proposes Relaxation of Zero Artificialization Law Amid Growing Controversy
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier announced support for a bill to ease restrictions on the ‘zero net artificialization of land’ policy. This move has sparked criticism from François Ruffin, who argues that France’s soil artificialization rates are already high. While data indicates slight declines in artificialization per capita in France and Germany, overall percentages of artificialized land are rising in all examined countries, with France now at 5.6%. The debates reflect broader concerns about urban development and environmental preservation.