French Environment Minister Monique Barbut remains in government after Macron’s request

Wednesday 22 July 2026 - 10:29

By: Sahili Aya

French Environment Minister Monique Barbut remains in government after Macron’s request

French Environment Minister Monique Barbut has agreed to remain in office after President Emmanuel Macron asked her to continue her mission and assured her of his support, her office announced on Wednesday.

The minister will stay in charge of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity and International Climate and Nature Negotiations, with her team emphasizing the need to continue government action in response to the growing impacts of climate change.

The announcement came shortly after Barbut had indicated that she intended to submit her resignation to the president following the Parliament’s final adoption of a controversial pesticide-related measure that she had opposed.

Her decision to remain in government marks a shift from the position she expressed earlier in the day and highlights Macron’s desire to maintain continuity in environmental policy at a time when climate issues remain a major political challenge.

Barbut’s ministry said her continued presence was justified by the urgency of addressing climate-related consequences and pursuing ongoing ecological initiatives.

The dispute surrounding the pesticide legislation had raised tensions within environmental circles, with critics arguing that the measure could weaken existing protections, while supporters defended it as part of broader agricultural policy considerations.

By asking Barbut to stay, the president appears to prioritize stability within the environmental portfolio and the continuation of ongoing negotiations on climate and biodiversity issues.

The minister’s role includes overseeing France’s ecological transition agenda, international climate commitments and biodiversity protection policies, areas that remain under close scrutiny from environmental organizations, policymakers and European partners.