French Phrase
On doit réduire les émissions de CO2.
Meaning
This sentence states that there is an obligation to cut down the amount of carbon‑dioxide that is released into the atmosphere. It is a clear, neutral way to express a climate‑action imperative.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing environmental policies, climate‑change debates, school projects on sustainability, or any conversation where you want to stress the need for collective action on carbon emissions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
OndoitréduirelesémissionsdeCO2.
On (impersonal pronoun)
"On" is used in French to mean "we" or "people in general" and takes a third‑person singular verb.
Devoir (present tense)
"Doit" is the third‑person singular present of devoir, expressing obligation or necessity.
Infinitive after devoir
When devoir is followed by another verb, that verb stays in the infinitive (réduire).
Definite article with plural noun
"Les" agrees with the plural noun "émissions"; do not drop the –s.
CO2 as a noun phrase
"CO2" is treated as a masculine singular noun; the preposition "de" links it to "émissions".
🗨In Conversation
Quelles mesures devrions‑nous prendre pour protéger la planète ?
What measures should we take to protect the planet?
On doit réduire les émissions de CO2.
We must reduce CO2 emissions.
✕Common Mistakes
On doivent réduire les émissions de CO2.
"On" takes a singular verb, so the correct form is "doit".
On doit réduire les émission de CO2.
"Émissions" is plural because it refers to many releases of CO2.
On doit réduire les émissions de CO₂.
In French the abbreviation is written without the subscript and is pronounced "cé‑o‑deux".
↔Alternatives
Il faut diminuer les émissions de CO2.
It is necessary to lower CO2 emissions.
Nous devons réduire les émissions de CO2.
We have to reduce CO2 emissions.
Il est nécessaire de réduire les émissions de CO2.
It is necessary to reduce CO2 emissions.
Cultural Tip
In French, "on" often replaces "nous" in spoken and even written language, especially in media and political statements. Using "on" makes the sentence sound more inclusive and less formal. When talking about climate issues, French speakers frequently pair "on" with strong verbs like "doit" or "faut" to convey urgency. Remember that "émissions" is always plural when referring to the various gases released, and the acronym "CO2" is pronounced "cé‑o‑deux" in everyday speech.