Updated July 07, 2017 10:35:09

Photo: Nicolas Hulot says the France aims to become carbon-neutral by 2050. (Reuters: Charles Platiau)

French Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot says he has set the country's carmakers the goal of not selling petrol or diesel cars by 2040.

At a news conference unveiling a five-year plan to encourage clean energy and fulfil the country's commitments under the Paris climate accord, Mr Hulot said France's car manufacturers have projects that "can fulfil that promise".

He also said the country aimed to become carbon-neutral by 2050.

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"One of the symbolic acts of the plan is that France, which previously had made the promise to divide its greenhouse gas emissions by four by 2050, has decided to become carbon neutral by 2050, following the US decision," Mr Hulot said.

"The carbon neutral objective will force us to make the necessary investments."

Mr Hulot also said on Thursday that France would stop producing power from coal-power stations — now 5 per cent of the total — by 2022.

The country also wants to reduce the proportion of its power from nuclear to 50 per cent by 2025, from the current 75 per cent.

Mr Hulot's announcement comes a day after Sweden's Volvo became the first major automaker to pledge to abandon cars and SUVs powered solely by the internal combustion engine.

ABC/Reuters

Topics: government-and-politics, environment, alternative-energy, world-politics, france

First posted July 07, 2017 10:27:52