Key facts
- French President Emmanuel Macron convinced Environment Minister Monique Barbut to withdraw her resignation.
- Barbut had resigned earlier on Wednesday, citing government reneging on promises over an agricultural bill.
- The agricultural bill included provisions to reintroduce certain pesticides and increase water storage for farmers.
- Macron and Barbut agreed to focus on three fundamental pillars: water, forests, and environmental health.
- Barbut cited the urgent need to tackle climate change impacts as a reason to remain in her post.
French President Emmanuel Macron has convinced his Minister for Ecological Transition, Monique Barbut, to withdraw her resignation after she had announced her departure earlier on Wednesday. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon confirmed that Macron refused Barbut's resignation and that they had agreed on three fundamental pillars for her continued focus: water, forests, and environmental health.
Barbut's office stated that she ultimately chose to stay "because of the urgent need to tackle the impacts of climate change, which are already hitting France hard, and to address pressing environmental health issues." Earlier on Wednesday, Barbut had criticized the government in a LinkedIn post, saying it had reneged on promises over an agricultural bill to reintroduce certain pesticides. She wrote that the "U-turn represents (...) one environmental setback too many."