The government of France is set to require that all new public buildings must be made at least 50% from wood or other sustainable materials from 2022 as it pushes for sustainable urban development. The local government in Paris had already pledged a greater use of natural materials such as wood, straw and hemp, and any buildings higher than eight storeys built for the 2024 Paris Olympics must be made entirely of timber. — Global Construction Review

As part of President Emmanuel Macron's climate action plan, a new measure announced by the country's Minister for Towns and Housing Julien Denormandie requires all new public buildings financed by the French State to contain at least 50% wood or other organic material, such as straw or hemp, by 2022.

Minister Denormandie also called for proposals to create 100 urban farms in priority neighborhoods, so called "green suburbs," as well as adding 90 new "eco-neighborhoods" to the already existing stock.

The "Sustainable City" plan is intended to showcase France's low-carbon ambitions in the lead-up to the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.

Related: French architects are increasingly ditching concrete and embracing timber

