France

Geography, Climate, and Environment
On December 12, 2015, representatives of 195 nations reached a landmark accord that committed nearly every country to lowering planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions to help stave off the drastic effects of climate change. When the Paris talks began on November 30, many observers sensed some countries were ready to settle on a minimalist agreement that would leave key issues to be resolved in the future. The deal - with the help of U.S. participation - changed the architecture of previous climate agreements by moving beyond a world where only rich countries shouldered the burden of paying to solve climate change.

Terrorism
France had been on high alert since the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris that killed 17 people, including civilians and police officers.

On November 13, 2015, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks occurred in Paris. Three suicide bombers struck near the Stade de France, followed by suicide bombings and mass shootings at cafes, restaurants, and a music venue in Paris. The attackers killed 130 people, including 89 at the Bataclan theatre, where they took hostages before engaging in a standoff with police. The attacks were the deadliest on France since World War II, and the deadliest in the European Union since the Madrid train bombings in 2004. The Islamic State claimed responsibility, saying it was in retaliation for the French airstrikes on ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq.

In response, a state of emergency was declared, and temporary border checks were introduced. On November 18, the suspected lead operative of the attacks - Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in a police raid in Saint-Denis. France focused on preventing small, anonymous money transfers used to finance terrorist attacks, a system that was used by the Paris attackers between Belgium and France. France and Germany pursued an EU money laundering directive to be implemented into national legislation in member states. Moreover, France intensified air strikes against the Islamic State in Syria, launching 10 to 15 missions per day.

Due to a heightened sense of anxiety and unrest in France, there were several incidents of false alerts, including a suspicious device found on an Air France flight from Mauritius to Paris that prompted an emergency landing on December 20, 2015.

Scandals
On August 3, 2011, a French court ordered an investigation into the role of the Finance Minister and IMF Head Christine Lagarde in a 403 million euro arbitration deal in favor of businessman Bernard Tapie. After police raids and a years-long investigation, a French court ordered her on December 17, 2015, to face trial in the face of pressure to continue carrying out her IMF duties.