France Climate, Rivers,
Flora and Fauna
France's important rivers include the Loire, the Seine, the Rhone, the Garonne,
the Rhine, the Somme, the Saone,
and the Marne. The Loire is the longest river entirely within France: 632.5 miles (1,018 km) long.
Glorious chateaux ("SHAH-TOE"), or castles, adorn its banks.
Throughout French history, rivers have brought fertility to the land and have
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nourished flourishing centers of population. These rivers, with their lesser tributaries and a vast system of linking canals, have enabled the
French to cross their country by boat and barge for hundreds of years.
The Seine connects Paris with the Atlantic Ocean. Rouen, the capital of Normandy and a busy industrial center,
is also on the Seine.
Bordeaux, the great wine center and seaport, lies on the Garonne. Its location makes it an
ideal home for merchants and shipbuilders.
Lyon lies at the point where the Rhone and Saone rivers meet, and its heart is a peninsula between the two rivers.
Since the Rhone-Saone Valley receives relatively little rainfall, the Rhone provides both hydroelectric power and
irrigation to farms and vineyards in that region. The Rhine brings hydroelectric power to the Alsace-Lorraine region.
A complex system of canals eases the flow of goods between the smaller cities and towns. Some examples are the
Nantes-Brest Canal in Brittany, the Canal du Nivernais in Burgundy, and the Canal du Midi, running from Toulouse
to the Languedoc coast.
France Weather
France's climate is generally moderate, combining Atlantic, Mediterranean, and continental influences. The western
part of the country receives winds off the Atlantic Ocean that bring rain and cool winters (44°F, 7°C average)
with moderate summers (around 60°F, 16°C). The Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean tempers the climate and makes it
warmer and more moderate than at comparable longitudes in North America. A light misty rain is common through most
of the year.
In land, there is a more pronounced seasonal difference, with hotter summers and colder winters, and
clearly defined wet and dry periods. In the Paris Basin, temperatures are between 32°F (0°C) and 75°F (24 C).
Eastern France and the mountain areas experience more severe winters and stormy summers. The Vosges Mountains
affect the region of Alsace, causing its sharp, cold winters and Warm to hot summers. Often peaks remain snow covered,
with glaciers appearing in the Alps. The mountains also receive more rain. reaching more than 55 inches (140 cm)
annually. Rainfall along the Mediterranean coast is only 25 inches (64 cm).
The Riviera, with its dry.
warm climate, is w-el1 protected }y the Alps. Summers are dry 'mid hot. with temperatures soaring into the
90s (over 90°F, 32°C). Still, cold north winds known as mistrals ("mis-TRAHL") sometimes blow through southeastern
France at a brutal 65 miles (105 km) per hour enough force to threaten the crops.
Flora And Fauna
The trees and plants of France vary with the climate from one part of the country to another. In the northern and central regions, forests of oak and beech trees are common. In the low lying marshes, willows, poplar, pine,
and birch trees may be found.
On the western border, carefully planted pine forests thrive where swamps have been drained. The Brittany
landscape, so commonly a bleak expanse of moors with scrubby brush and stunted trees, contrasts greatly with
the Provencal landscape of ancient olive trees and verdant grapevines and fruit trees. In other parts of France,
cypress, Spanish chestnut, and ash trees form thick groves and forests. Evergreens such as cushion pine, dwarf pine,
and juniper flourish in parts of the Alps.
More than one-third of the country is planted for agriculture. Wheat, barley, and corn are among the chief crops.
Lavender, thyme, other herbs, hidden truffles, and mushrooms in rich variety scent the fields and flavor the tables
of France.
The Atlantic and the Mediterranean coasts offer a colorful palette of shellfish and other sea creatures. The oysters
and lobsters of the Normandy and Brittany coasts, and trout and salmon of the Pyrenees waters please diners throughout
the country.
Flamingos, herons, and storks ripple the lake waters of nature preserves in the province of Lorraine. Wild animals
include the brown bear, wild boar, polecat, wildcat, and deer. The wild horses and bulls in the nature reserves of
the marshy Camargue region of Provence are a particularly dramatic sight. Among the smaller mammals commonly seen in
the French countryside are badgers, bats, beavers, foxes, hares, hedgehogs, moles, rabbits, squirrels, and weasels.
Farmers depend on more common animals for a living: cattle, chickens, hogs, and sheep.
Extract from “Cultures Of The World France”, Written by Etbel Caro Gofen. Times Editions Pte Ltd,
Singapore: 1999.
Amazon eBay: Successful support for renewable energy has
been demonstrated, but efforts are insufficient
in most countries: Renewable energy technologies
need support mechanisms to accelerate their deployment.
Positive developments can be observed e.g. in Germany
with a comprehensive strategy but most other countries
lack behind expectations.
Carbon markets are maturing: The innovative
instruments of the carbon market (emissions trading
and creditable emission reduction projects through
the Clean Development Mechanism, CDM, and Joint
Implementation, JI) are expected to play a major role in
future actions against climate change. Most countries are
improving their implementation of the carbon market. No
or only small activities are present in Canada, USA and
Russia.
The + 5
This report also provides information for the +5, the
major developing countries. These five countries are
expecting large growth of emissions in the future. But
all of them undertake action to slow emissions growth,
e.g. significant support for renewable energy in Brazil,
China and India. These countries have not been scored
in the same manner as G8 due to their different national
circumstances and level of development. The question
remains how G8 countries will assist them in developing
in a less carbon intensive manner and how much effort
they undertake themselves.
Scoring
The scoring, based on the twelve indicators, demonstrates
that none of the G8 countries are implementing enough
measures to be considered in line with the target to keep
global temperature rise below 2°C. Given the urgency of
the climate challenge, the G8 countries collectively still
have a long way to go. Some countries have underlined
their intent to move ahead globally by doing their fair
share through setting mid-term targets for 2020 (e.g. the
EU member states whose 30 % reduction target would
be just about in line with a 2°C pathway). The other G8
countries – Russia, Japan, Canada and the US – have so
far put few objectives and policies in place that show
they are taking the challenge seriously.
G8 Climat e Scorecards
2008
9
Renewables
Electricity / nuclear
Energy efficiency
in industry
Ranking summary
Improvements
since 1990 Current Status Policies for the Future ranking
Transport
Households
and services
Industry
Past emission trend
from 1990 to 2006
CO2 per kWh
electricity
Emissions
per GDP
Emissions
per capita
Increase of the share of
renewable energy sources
Current distance
to the Kyoto target
USA
Canada
Russia
Uk
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Germany
France
Japan
Italy
G8 Climat e Scorecards
2008
10
Japan »» Achieved relatively high average efficiency through policies since the 70’s
»» Increase of energy efficiency has been offset by increasing use of cars, electric
appliances and power production; total energy consumption has been rising
»» Efficiencies have worsened since 1990 in cement and chemicals
»» Buildings: “Top runner” (automatically increasing) energy efficiency standards for
electrical appliances, but no effective policies or standards to improve overall energy
performance of buildings
»» Transport: “Top runner” energy efficiency standards for cars
»» Power/industry: no absolute reduction target but voluntary action, no policies to
encourage combined heat and power generation (CHP)
Italy »» Average energy efficiency level in power, industry, buildings and transport
»» Buildings: reasonably effective for new buildings, partly effective for renovated buildings;
first in EU to implement white certificate scheme; class A is minimum standard for
electrical equipment as of 2010; zero stand-by as of 2010 and no sales of incandescent
bulb of 2011
»» Transport sector: fragmented policy and not very effective; no standards
»» Power/industry: Emission trading scheme needs to become effective; CHP policy
has effect
»» With financial law 2007 and 2008 important energy efficiency tax rebate introduced for
domestic and commercial sector
France »» Average energy efficiency level in power, industry, buildings and transport
»» Buildings: reasonably effective for new buildings, but not effective for renovated buildings;
lacking efficiency standards for electrical appliances
»» Transport: Additional taxation for cars emitting more than 200 gCO2/km; soon also tax
credit below 130 gCO2/km; no standards; insufficient policy in the freight sector.
»» Power/industry: Emission trading scheme needs to become effective; weak mandatory
targets imposed on utilities to promote energy efficiency by demand side actions
Germany »» Average energy efficiency level in power, industry, buildings and transport
»» Buildings: reasonably effective for new buildings; partly effective for renovated buildings,
but still a big potential in the building sector is unused; lacking efficiency standards for
electrical appliances
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