Localising ecological planning in France: a review of the COP experience
The project at a glance
Start year : 2024
End year : 2027
Scientific Director : François-Mathieu Poupeau
Area of research : Govern, organize, work (GOT)
in progress
Overview
Project overview
This research project focuses on the ecological planning initiative launched in France in 2022, following the establishment of the General Secretariat for Ecological Planning (SGPE). This is a groundbreaking initiative, which has been hailed by many observers (including the most critical environmental NGOs) as a promising step that marks a departure from previous efforts.
More specifically, the analysis focuses on the regionalisation phase of the planning process, which was launched in late 2023 through the establishment of a new mechanism for dialogue between central government and local authorities: the regional and departmental COPs. Held on a regular basis, their aim is to facilitate the implementation of national objectives relating to climate (mitigation and adaptation), biodiversity and natural resources (water, etc.). Drawing on the monitoring of dissertations from the Specialised Master’s programme in ‘Public Policies and Actions for Sustainable Development ’ (PAPDD) at the École nationale des Ponts et Chaussées and on a series of interviews conducted on a regular basis (2025, 2026, 2027) with a sample of stakeholders involved in these processes (central government, associations of local authorities, General Secretaries of the regional COPs, Regional Councils, DREAL and DDT(M)), this study analyses the scope of this new framework and its institutionalisation (genuine? thwarted?), in a context where the role of the SGPE and environmental issues are being strongly called into question.
Funding and partnerships
Valuation
Journal feature:
- François-Mathieu Poupeau (with Hugo Cordier and Charlotte Marcilliere): ‘Ecology: a new form of planning in France?’, Revue française d’administration publique, no. 193, 2027 (forthcoming)
Journal articles:
- François-Mathieu Poupeau, “Making regional actors agents of ecological planning. The General Secretariat for Ecological Planning and the regional COPs in France”, Revue française d’administration publique, no. 193, 2027 (forthcoming).
- François-Mathieu Poupeau, “A look back at the experience of the General Secretariat for Ecological Planning. Interview with Antoine Pellion”, Revue française d’administration publique, 2027.
International conferences and seminars:
- François-Mathieu Poupeau, “Involving local authorities in climate planning in France. Feedback on the experience of the Secrétariat général à la planification écologique (SGPE)”, ESA RN12 “Environment and Society” mid-term and Energy and Society Network 7th joint conference, “Societal Responses to Environmental Crises and Energy Transitions”, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), 24 September 2025.
- François-Mathieu Poupeau, “Involving local authorities in climate planning in France. Assessing the effects of the regional COPs launched in France by the Secrétariat général à la planification écologique (SGPE)”, Panel “Local Governance and Climate Resilience: Strategies and Opportunities” (RC05.07), 28th World Congress of Political Science, Seoul, South Korea, 13 July 2025.
- François-Mathieu Poupeau, “The territorialisation of national climate commitments in France. Feedback on the planning experience launched by the Secrétariat général à la planification écologique”, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea, Seminar of the “Energy transition policy research centre”, 11 July 2025.