Sf the theme of a just transition has established itself in the public arena after the “yellow vest” crisis, the conception of public action that would address social and climate issues together does not yet appear ripe. Preempted by the obviously essential issues of carbon taxation and household aid for electric cars or thermal renovation (MaPrimeRénov’), the social question in the transition in fact misses the elephant in the room: the Social security, which, through its benefits and services, represents the primary vector of redistribution.
With more than 3 billion euros per year, MaPrimeRénov’ certainly includes policies to combat poverty and housing in the climate transition. And even substantially, since it represents a significant part of the 50 billion annual combined budget of these two policies. But what about of the “heart of the reactor” of our welfare state constituted by Social Security, which weighs fifteen times more (a third of the French gross domestic product)?
It should be remembered that it was Social Security which built the Social Republic at the end of the war and was slowly being built in all Western countries until it highlighted these risks which today seem to us to be banally covered – retirement , health, family, autonomy. It is all the more urgent to worry about this for the transition as health and autonomy alone represent 8% of France’s carbon footprint. How can we increase the financing of these risks by a few billion to respond to the challenges of aging, while decarbonizing these sectors?
It would be unrealistic to hope to achieve this while also financing the 20 billion euros of annual public investments for the climate necessary to achieve the objectives of the Paris agreements by 2030 without innovating through actions that ” double whammy.” Otherwise, we will continue to finance carbon purchasing power on the one hand to limit the social effects of the transition – such as, for example, the energy check – and decarbonization measures on the other.
Decarbonize the billion meals
Here are some non-exhaustive examples of this type of “double whammy” action.
The ecological planning of the “fifth branch” of Social Security for autonomy, currently being promoted, plans to reduce CO emissions2 of 9 million tonnes by 2050. To achieve this, it will be necessary to decarbonize the billion meals consumed annually in accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (Ephad) and in establishments supporting people with disabilities, with a double challenge:
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