Overview
ADEME (French Agency for Ecological Transition) is a French public agency established in 1990 to support ecological transformation and combat climate change and resource degradation. It operates under the French Environmental Code with a mandate to accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more equitable society. ADEME mobilises multiple actors including citizens, businesses and local authorities to implement sustainable solutions across France and overseas departments.
Mission and focus areas
ADEME’s primary mission is to accelerate ecological transition by supporting innovation, sharing expertise and fostering behavioural change. It contributes to national climate objectives — notably carbon neutrality by 2050 — through strategic orientation, project funding, and awareness raising. Core focus areas include climate action, energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment, circular economy, sustainable mobility, environmental protection, and research support. ADEME’s work aligns with sustainability and ESG integration by enabling stakeholders to reduce environmental impacts, improve resource use, and adopt sustainable practices through technical and financial assistance.
Structure and governance
ADEME is an Établissement public à caractère industriel et commercial (EPIC) under the supervision of the French ministries responsible for ecological transition, energy, and research. It has more than 1 000 staff operating across 26 locations in metropolitan France and overseas territories, supported by regional directorates and central departments. Organisational divisions include units for research, programmes, territorial engagement, extended producer responsibility, and international relations, among others. ADEME’s budget comprises government subsidies, revenue from energy savings schemes, training and European funding.
Programs and offerings
ADEME provides a range of resources, financial instruments and expertise to accelerate sustainable action. It funds research and innovation projects, administers grants and incentive schemes, and produces studies, methodologies and data to guide public policy and practice. ADEME’s outputs include prospective analyses, emission factor datasets, and stakeholder guidance, as well as tools to support project implementation. The agency also collaborates internationally and participates in European networks to promote environmental technologies and best practice exchange.
As the ecological transition agency, our mission is to accelerate the transition to a more sober and supportive, job-generating, humane and harmonious society. To this end, we support innovation, from research to the application and sharing of solutions. Such that we generalise good practices and advance knowledge.
