Using the bus system for daily commutes and the train for long trips is another way people in France try to minimize their environmental impact. However, public transporation isn't always so easy to access. In the central region of France and other rural areas, it is necessary to have a car.
Recently, the President of France tried to decrease the country's carbon emissions by raising the tax on gas. If gas is more expensive, people might think twice about driving to the grocery store and use the bus instead, which is good for the environment. Instead, people living in rural communities all around France protested the tax. They considered it unfair to have the price of gas increase when they rely on their cars to survive. No matter the price of gas, farmers have to fuel their tractors to farm their crops, and members of rural community need to drive in order to access basic services like a library or hospital. While the government stopped the tax increase, the national debate continues.
