Carbon emissions were 2.5 percent lower in 2006 compared with 2005, and four percent lower than in 1990, the Protocol's benchmark year, Ecology Minister Jean-Louis Borloo told journalists at an annual reception.

"France will be one of the few big economies to meet its Kyoto Protocol targets," Borloo said.

Under Kyoto, the European Union (EU) pledged to collectively curb its emissions by eight percent by 2012 compared to 1990.

The national target for France is zero percent, meaning that it pledged not to increase its emissions over the 22-year timescale.

In addition to progress in energy efficiency and emissions reductions by industry, autumn 2006 in France was exceptionally warm -- three degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal -- which saved burning fossil fuels for heating, Borloo said.

Overall, 2006 ranked as the third warmest year for France since 1950.

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