France Requires All New Public Buildings to Contain 50% Wood

A new French law is leaving inefficient, carbon-heavy architecture in the dust. Beginning in 2022, the nation will require all buildings it finances to be made with 50% wood, or other other sustainable materials like hemp or straw. Julien Denormandie, the country’s minister for cities and housing, announced the move toward more responsible building practices at a UNESCO event on February 5.

It’s the latest in a series of green initiatives in France, which is the first country to outline a clear plan to address the worsening climate crisis. President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to make France carbon-neutral by 2050 was voted in last year, and the country plans to put $21 million toward a network of 100 urban farms that will provide communities with access to fresh, local produce. Forests are also being planted around architectural landmarks, adding greenery to public spaces.

Unlike a proposal drafted by the Trump Administration to mandate a specific architectural style for federal buildings, France’s new policy is a democratic effort between elected representatives and the citizens that voted them in. "It cannot work through coercion," says Denormandie. "The goal is to make sustainable cities, but more so democratic, united cities."

France’s commitments to sustainability will be on display when the world stops by for the 2024 Olympics.

Photos by corinabenesch

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