Sufficiency: France’s Path to Resilience, Sovereignty, and Social Renewal

France, Europe, and the world, are facing a convergence of unprecedented crises.

First, an ecological crisis. Six of the nine planetary boundaries have already been transgressed (external link), leading to escalating consequences: extreme weather events, and also the loss of vital ecosystem services that underpin our economy, from food to industrial production (external link).

Second, a social crisis: as trust in institutions erodes, people lose faith in the ability of existing institutions to be just, protect them or to offer them brighter perspectives. Consequently, populist and extreme parties are gaining ground, election after election (external link).

Third, a crisis of the international order, marked by escalating conflicts, global fragmentation, and growing uncertainty in international relations.

Addressing these crises requires more than incremental reforms - it demands a paradigm shift, to break free from neoliberal constraints. Sufficiency, defined as “a set of (external link)policy measures (external link) and (external link) daily practices (external link) which avoid the demand for energy, materials, land, water, and other natural resources, while delivering (external link)well-being for all (external link) within (external link)planetary boundaries (external link)” (external link), is the only viable way forward.

France has begun exploring this path, with a national energy sufficiency plan launched in 2022 (external link). Yet, it remains largely focused on efficiency measures and individual behavioural changes (external link), failing to address the systemic transformation that sufficiency truly requires.

As the saying goes, “while efficiency is about doing things right, sufficiency is about doing the (external link)right things (external link)” (external link).

Both are necessary, but sufficiency must come first.

Sufficiency is not Sacrifice. It's about Systemic Freedom for all. Doing the right things without being judgmental implies acknowledging the social structure shaping individual choices, including infrastructures, institutions and social norms.  Individuals make decisions within a given context, that influences their individual freedom (external link). By modifying this context, sufficiency shifts the conversation away from sacrifices and restrictions. Instead, sufficiency creates new freedoms - where sufficient behaviours become obvious, practical, desirable and attractive, where public transport eliminates the need for personal cars and durable, repairable products become the norm.

Sufficiency is the condition for sovereignty and resilience. France and Europe lack many natural resources domestically (external link). Sufficiency strengthens sovereignty by reducing its imports and increasing resilience against external shocks such as wars and trade instability. Policies that promote product longevity and repair have already been proven to relocate jobs and value chains domestically (external link), boosting local economies. 

Ultimately, sufficiency is an opportunity to rebuild a new long-lasting social contract, one rooted in well-being, equity and protection of those affected by the transition. The sufficiency social contract will create new avenues for meaning and purpose, autonomy and accomplishment, as well as security and fairness for all. 

France has always been a nation of visionaries. In this pivotal moment of ecological and social urgency, France has the opportunity to lead Europe by embedding sufficiency at the heart of public policy. Not as a constraint or a renunciation, but as a path to well-being, prosperity, sovereignty, resilience, and justice.