Key facts
- French President Emmanuel Macron asked Environment Minister Monique Barbut to stay in her role.
- Barbut had resigned earlier in the week citing opposition to her green agenda.
- Tensions arose over an agriculture bill that included provisions for a banned pesticide and increased water storage for farmers.
- Macron and Barbut agreed on focusing on forests, water, and environmental health.
- Barbut cited the urgent need to act against climate change consequences as a reason to remain.
French President Emmanuel Macron has convinced his Minister for Ecological Transition, Monique Barbut, to remain in her position after she had announced her resignation earlier this week. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon confirmed that Macron refused Barbut's resignation and that they had agreed on three key areas for her continued focus: forests, water, and environmental health.