Inauguration of Emmanuel Macron’s ‘Make Our Planet Great Again’ Initiative

On May 15, 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron officially launched the ‘Make Our Planet Great Again’ initiative. This program was inaugurated in direct response to the United States’ announcement of its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on June 1, 2017. The initiative aimed to reaffirm France’s commitment to addressing climate change and to foster international cooperation in environmental research and sustainable development.

Context and Background

• Paris Agreement Withdrawal: On June 1, 2017, then-US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would cease participation in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation. This decision was met with widespread international concern, as the US is one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters.

• Macron’s Response: President Macron responded promptly with a call to action, coining the phrase ‘Make Our Planet Great Again,’ a play on Trump’s campaign slogan. Macron positioned France as a leader in climate science and sustainability efforts.

Objectives of the Initiative

• Attracting Scientists and Researchers: Macron’s initiative sought to attract international scientists and researchers, especially those affected by the policy shifts in the US, to come to France and continue their work on climate change. The program offered research funding and dedicated resources to support their projects.

• Strengthening Global Partnerships: The initiative emphasized strengthening partnerships with other nations committed to climate action, promoting collaborative projects and knowledge exchanges.

• Advancing Environmental Policies: It aimed to accelerate the implementation of progressive environmental policies within France and encourage EU-wide initiatives to combat climate change.

Impact and Significance

• Global Collaboration: Since its launch, the initiative has successfully attracted numerous researchers from around the world to France, enhancing the country’s scientific community and its contributions to global climate research.

• Policy Development: It reinforced France’s position as a proactive leader in climate-related policy-making and bolstered support for the Paris Agreement at a time when global commitment was uncertain.

• Awareness and Advocacy: The initiative served as a clarion call for increased awareness and advocacy for environmental sustainability, inspiring similar actions and commitments from other nations and regional blocs.

Emmanuel Macron’s ‘Make Our Planet Great Again’ initiative represents a significant instance of international leadership in environmental issues, underscoring the importance of multinational collaboration in addressing the global climate crisis.