Making Climate Commitments Mandatory for All Hotels

• France has passed a new law requiring all hotels to meet certain climate commitments by 2026. 
• The new law aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the hotel industry, which contributes 7% of emissions in the world’s top tourist destination.

The law, part of France’s “climate and resilience” strategy, was passed in 2021, and that eco-certification must be ratified by 2026. It is a significant step in the country’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.

The law was tested with the help of UMIH, the national trade union for the hospitality industries in France, which promoted the new rules among its 30,000 members. According to ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition, hotels in France contribute to 7% of greenhouse gas emissions, a significant factor driving the need for this legislation.

The eco-certification process involves a detailed audit, during which between 200 and 1,000 pieces of data are collected from a hotel. These data points, which include information on carbon emissions, water and non-renewable energy consumption, and eco-label hotel products, are used to rank hotels on a “green score” from A to E.

Beyond environmental benefits, the new law is also expected to provide economic advantages to hotels. Hubert Vendeville, CEO of Betterfly Tourism, argues that pursuing a better rating can result in significant savings. For example, for each room night, it is possible to save €1 in annual operating costs, equating to €15,000 ($15,645) in savings for the average hotel, according to Vendeville.

The new legislation has already sparked an increase in demand for ecolabel certification, with the UMIH reporting a 70% increase. Currently, 30% of French hotels are classified under various ecolabels, from the 1998-launched Clef Verte (Green Key) to local schemes. This surge is partly due to government subsidies offered for hotel green changes.

Gerald Chabert, director of operations at Lyon-based Éhôtels Collection, emphasizes the importance of the new law, stating, “The tourism industry is being singled out, and hotels must initiate a change. This is the direction history is going.” Indeed, the law is a significant step in making the hospitality industry more environmentally responsible.

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