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B1French·20 cards

Talking Climate and the Environment in France

Discuss heatwaves, water restrictions, Crit'Air stickers and recycling around a French family table, and hold your own in the debate.

Summers in France now regularly bring canicules (heatwaves) and drought orders that ban watering gardens or washing cars. Big cities have low-emission zones where older cars without the right Crit'Air sticker can't drive, and many people switch to bikes or trains. Packaging goes in the yellow recycling bin in most towns, and state grants such as MaPrimeRénov' help pay for home insulation.

Explore a quaint street in Strasbourg, Grand Est, featuring historic architecture and a cyclist on a rainy day.
Photo: yoldakocayanlaar |•UK on Pexels
  1. 1

    Encore une canicule, c'est plus possible.

    Another heatwave, this can't go on.

  2. 2

    Il y a des restrictions d'eau dans notre département.

    There are water restrictions in our département.

  3. 3

    On n'a plus le droit d'arroser le jardin.

    We're not allowed to water the garden anymore.

  4. 4

    Ma voiture n'a pas la bonne vignette Crit'Air.

    My car doesn't have the right Crit'Air sticker.

  5. 5

    Les vieilles voitures ne peuvent plus entrer dans le centre-ville.

    Old cars can't go into the city centre anymore.

  6. 6

    Je vais au travail à vélo.

    I cycle to work.

  7. 7

    Je prends le train plutôt que l'avion.

    I take the train rather than the plane.

  8. 8

    Tu fais le tri ?

    Do you sort your rubbish?

  9. 9

    Les emballages, c'est dans la poubelle jaune.

    Packaging goes in the yellow bin.

  10. 10

    On devrait mieux isoler la maison.

    We should insulate the house better.

  11. 11

    Il y a des aides de l'État pour les travaux.

    There's government help for renovation work.

  12. 12

    J'essaie de réduire mon empreinte carbone.

    I'm trying to reduce my carbon footprint.

  13. 13

    J'ai arrêté de manger de la viande rouge tous les jours.

    I've stopped eating red meat every day.

  14. 14

    Les glaciers fondent.

    The glaciers are melting.

  15. 15

    C'est pas qu'une question d'efforts individuels.

    It's not only about individual efforts.

  16. 16

    Ce sont les grandes entreprises qui polluent le plus.

    It's the big companies that pollute the most.

  17. 17

    Vous exagérez un peu, non ?

    (formal) You're exaggerating a bit, aren't you?

  18. 18

    Je fais de l'éco-anxiété.

    I get eco-anxiety.

  19. 19

    Chaque geste compte.

    Every little action counts.

  20. 20

    Il faut agir maintenant.

    We have to act now.