In 2025, the provisions relating to the ecological certification of productions set up by the French CNC were extended to animation and video games and a RSE+ bonus started in favour of live-action works.

These provisions, which aim to encourage production supported by the CNC to implement more ecological production methods, are a direct result of the international agreements relating to the limitation of global warming, which are the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal, and then the French law of 22 August 2021 on the fight against climate change in order to achieve the objectives defined at the European and international levels.

In the audiovisual and film sector, this was reflected first and foremost in the implementation of the Action Plan! in 2021, which has been ongoing ever since.

The aim of the latter is to enable the impact of the cinematographic, audiovisual and video game l sectors to be measured, to raise awareness among the professionals involved and to reduce the impact of the sector on global warming.

About production, CNC provides an eco-conditionality of the aid granted by the CNC since 1 January 2024 for live action and such condition is extended to natively digital works, i.e. works relating to animation and video games since 1 March 2025.

Thus, article L122-18 of the Règlement Général des aides establishes that financial aid for the production of long-term and short-term cinematographic works or for the production of audiovisual works, belonging to the fiction, documentary or animation genre, or to the production of video games, is strictly conditional on the submission of a provisional and a final assessment of the carbon footprint generated by the production of the work.

These conditions are therefore an essential step in the organization of production, which must be implemented in accordance with the conditions set out by the CNC.

Accordingly, CNC requires that the assessments consider the direct and indirect emissions induced, in particular, by the purchase of services, material resources, technical means, post-production, accommodation and meals, the transport of people and goods and waste management. It should be noted that the company’s carbon footprint is not required.

The calculation of the carbon footprint must be carried out in accordance with a reference established by the CNC and only the calculation methodologies approved by the CNC are then deemed to comply with the standard. The carbon footprint is accepted only in the form of a document entitled « Export CNC ».           

It is essential in the production budget to consider the cost of such carbon footprints assessment and to prepare them for the deadlines indicated in the Règlement Général des Aides.

For example, for aid to produce cinematographic works (in live action or animation), the filing of the provisional carbon footprint assessment must be submitted at the time of investment approval, and the final carbon footprint is filed at the time of production approval.

As far as co-productions are concerned, it should be noted that only co-productions in which the French share is the majority are concerned. The carbon footprint assessment then mainly concerns the services paid by the French producer but nevertheless includes certain items of foreign production.

It is understood that if the producer fails to provide the CNC with the provisional or final assessments, the producer will be sanctioned either by a refusal of the aid if the provisional assessment is not communicated, or if the final assessment  is not communicated by a withdrawal of the aid, accompanied by a repayment of the sums already received and resulting in the non-payment of the balance of the aid.

It is important to note, however, that the eco-conditionality measure does not set any obligation of results against producers but only aims to make producers aware of the ecological impact of production and the possibilities of reducing their carbon footprint.

In this regard, since 1 September 2025, and for a period of three years, the CNC has been offering a RSE+ bonus for producers of live-action works of fiction: film, series or TV programme.

This bonus of €28,000 is automatic and awarded subject to the completion of 26 actions corresponding to levels 1 and 2 of the AFNOR reference framework for responsible film, audiovisual and advertising production. For example: reducing greenhouse gas emissions during travel, favouring the purchase of consumables and resources with a lower environmental impact, recycling waste or reducing the share of meat-based meals in the catering.

A producer wishing to benefit from the bonus must first make a prior declaration of intent to obtain the RSE + bonus before the start of filming, then apply for certification to finally be entitled to request payment.

Obtaining the bonus requires the implementation of a clear CSR policy on the part of the producers and supervision of each stage of production, in collaboration with the co-producers, service providers and employees involved in the project. Accordingly, producers need to clearly organize the implementation of the CSR policy in the related agreements to meet the criteria of the bonus.

It is in any case essential for producers to put in place clauses in their contractual organisations that are adapted to this new requirement of the CNC, to ensure that their partners and service providers communicate all the information necessary for the establishment of carbon footprints.

In this context, it may be wise to use the services of a specialized lawyer to draft and negotiate favourable and secure conditions.