GHG emissions from transport

GHG emissions from transport in France

Note: "Transport not included in total" emissions refer to international sea, river and air transport. The data for 2024 are a preliminary estimate.
Source : Secten format - Citepa, 2025

In 2024, transport emissions (excluding international transport) continued to fall after the rebound following the pandemic (-4% in 2023, -1% in 2024), reaching a level 7% below that of 2019. Road transport accounted for 94% of the sector's emissions, and therefore accounted for the majority of this decrease (-1%). Emissions from French air transport also fell by 4%.

International transport (sea and air), particularly affected by the health crisis, continued to grow. Its emissions increased by 7% in 2024, but were still 13% lower than in 2019.

Between 1990 and 2024, road transport emissions rose by 1% (+2% for heavy goods vehicles and commercial vehicles, -2% for private vehicles), and those of French air transport by 15%. French river and sea transport decreased by 21%.

GHG emissions intensity of transport in metropolitan France

Note: the indicators used for passenger and freight transport are respectively GHG emissions per passenger-km transported and GHG emissions per tonne-km transported.
Scope: road (excluding LCVs), air, rail, sea and river transport in metropolitan France.
Sources: SDES, Bilan annuel des transports en 2023; Secten format - Citepa, 2025

Transport emissions intensity corresponds to the quantity of GHG emitted to transport one tonne of goods or one passenger over one kilometer. This indicator varies according to a number of factors, including modal shift (from rail to road, for example), vehicle load factor and fuel efficiency.

Since the 1990s, the GHG emissions intensity of domestic freight transport in metropolitan France has been on a downward trend (-28% between 1990 and 2023), with a notable rebound after the economic crisis of 2008 and, to a lesser extent, after the health crisis of 2020.

Similarly, the emissions intensity of passenger transport in metropolitan France gradually decreased (-25% between 1990 and 2023), mainly thanks to improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency. It also rebounded after the health crisis, notably as a result of the modal shift from public transport to private vehicles.