As the war in Ukraine highlights the perils of relying on Russian fossil fuels, France has been fast-tracking efforts to wean households off oil-fired heating, insulate their homes better and swap petrol and diesel cars for electric vehicles.

Climate policy discussions in recent years have focused on phasing out coal — the most carbon-polluting fuel — but the Ukraine crisis is pushing some governments to confront their ongoing addiction to oil and natural gas, too.

"Whatever the obstacles before us, the transition to a world without fossil fuels is more than ever the safest and most effective way to guarantee our future and our energy sovereignty," French ecological transition minister, Barbara Pompili, told reporters last week.