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The Ministry of the Environment, Energy and the Sea (French: Ministère de l'Environnement, de l'Energie et de la Mer, MEEM) is an agency of the Government of France, centred on a cabinet member who is often referred to as the "Minister of Ecology". Since April 2014, the position is occupied by socialist Ségolène Royal. The ministry is headquartered in La Grande Arche in La Défense and also, in the Tour Pascal and Tour Sequoia, in Puteaux/ La Défense, near Paris. There is also a Delegate Minister for Transport, Sea and Fishing (Ministre délégué aux Transports, à la Mer et à la Pêche) located in the same place. This position is currently occupied by Frédéric Cuvillier.
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From 1974 to 1977, the position was renamed Minister of Quality of Life; in 1978 this became Minister of the Environment and Way of Life. The current position title features the expression sustainable development, in part due to the influence of the Green party and the pro-environmental movement in French politics over the past decade.
An Environmental Charter was included in the French Constitution in 2004.
This Ministry is responsible for State Environmental Policy (Preservation of Biodiversity, Climate Kyoto Protocol Application, Environmental Control of industries, etc.), Transportation (air, road, railway and sea regulation departments), Sea, and Housing Policy. The Ministry distributes funds to Research Agencies or Councils.
Subordinate agencies
French Housing Policy
The Department of Housing was created after the Second World War to compensate for the destruction of housing during the Liberation.
In 2009, the Minister of Housing and City (full title is Minister of Territorial Equality and Housing) reported to the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing. This post became the Minister of Housing. In 2012, the minister was Cécile Duflot (with the title Ministre de l'Egalité des Territoires et du Logement).
In May 2012 the Ayrault government established the Le Ministère de l'Égalité des Territoires et du Logement managed by the ecologist Cécile Duflot and François Lamy.
Former names
Previously it was called the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Sea (Ministère de l'Écologie, de l'Énergie, du Développement durable et de la Mer, MEEDDM). It also had been called the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning (Ministère de l'Écologie, de l'Énergie, du Développement durable et de l'Aménagement du territoire, MEEDDAT). It also once operated as the Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning (Ministère de l’Écologie, du Développement et de l’Aménagement durables, MEDAD). Another occasion, it was the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development (Ministère de l'écologie et du développement durable). It also had been the Ministry of Country Planning and Environment (Ministère de l'Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Environnement).