"We are moving too quickly," stated Jean-Pierre Door, a conservative legislator representing frustrated constituents. He expressed concerns about people feeling overwhelmed. The town of Montargis became a focal point of the Yellow Vest protest movement three years ago, sparked by increased gasoline taxes. The movement, fueled by a broader sense of alienation among those in rural areas, highlighted a class divide between working-class individuals threatened by the transition to clean energy and urban elites who can afford electric cars and bike to work. As global climate talks take place in Glasgow, there is still a lingering economic and political disconnect in France. While some in rural areas recognize the need to transition to clean energy, the immediate concern for many is financial struggles. The urgency to address environmental issues at COP26 contrasts with the everyday struggles faced by those on the outskirts of society. Household gas prices have increased by 12.6% in just one month, partly due to shortages caused by the coronavirus. Electric cars, once promoted as a more economical option than diesel vehicles, now seem extravagantly priced. Some residents are opposed to wind turbines near their homes, fearing they will decrease property values. A local resident near Montargis suggested putting wind turbines in a park in Paris instead. The transition to clean energy has become a sensitive issue for President Emmanuel Macron, who is facing an election in April. He has presented himself as an environmentally conscious fighter, although practical, but understands that any involvement with the Yellow Vests movement would harm his chances in the election. Every day, Cannault looks out from her farm near town at a newly constructed 390-foot mast used to measure wind levels for potential turbines. "We were never consulted about this." The only sounds on a foggy morning were geese honking and roosters crowing as she spoke. Claude Madec-Cleï, the mayor of the neighboring village of Griselles, agreed, saying, "We are not taken into consideration." President Macron is trying to get the support of the Green party. In preparation for the upcoming election, Macron is trying to appeal to a wide range of people and is particularly eager to prevent another uprising of the Yellow Vests. To help alleviate the financial burden of rising gas prices, the government has decided to freeze household gas prices. Additionally, they will be sending an "energy check" of $115 to 6 million people considered to be in dire need. Another 38 million people who earn less than $2,310 a month will also receive an "inflation indemnity" of the same amount. The increase in gasoline prices has played a significant role in the government's decision to implement these measures. Sophie Tissier, who led a Yellow Vest protest in Paris in 2019, expressed frustration over the heavy police response that made it difficult to restart the movement, despite the social crisis and anger in France. She highlighted the extreme inequalities in the country, which she believes hinders the transition to ecological practices. While the president promotes his energy proposals as realistic, they involve a mix of small-reactor nuclear power and renewable sources like wind power. The Green movement advocates for phasing out nuclear power, which currently meets a majority of France's electricity needs, while conservatives criticize this as a step backwards. On the other hand, Marine Le Pen calls for the removal of the country's wind turbines. Meanwhile, many French citizens find themselves torn between environmental concerns and their immediate needs, like Christine Gobet who commutes 90 miles a day in a diesel car to work at an Amazon warehouse for a modest income. She sat in her car outside a garage, where she had just spent $3,000 to replace her diesel engine. Despite the rising costs and talk of switching to electric cars, she scoffed at the idea, saying it was not feasible for her. She expressed frustration at constantly changing recommendations, from diesel being promoted as less polluting to now being told the opposite. She participated in Yellow Vest demonstrations in Montargis at the beginning of the movement. She was motivated not only by financial pressure but also by the feeling that decisions were made by elites without consideration for the people who are affected by them. She left the movement when it turned violent. In Montargis, a traffic circle called the "peanut roundabout" was blocked for two months, causing stores to run out of stock. She believes little has changed since then. According to her, Paris has everything while people from the provinces who go there to work are not valued. Working-class individuals like Gobet, who was featured in a series in Le Monde, find calls to stop using fossil fuels and close nuclear power stations in places like Glasgow to be disconnected from their everyday lives. At 58 years old, she represents a divide between generations. The younger generation, led by Greta Thunberg, believes that there is no more pressing issue than saving the planet. On the other hand, older individuals are hesitant to support environmental measures that may impact their quality of life in their later years. In Montargis, an area popular with retirees and immigrants, a taxi driver named Gilles Fauvin often transports clients with medical needs to hospitals in Orléans and Paris. The potential ban on diesel cars in the capital by 2024 and the push to transition to costly electric cars could have a negative impact on him. He expressed that diesel cars are beneficial for him, despite the fact that they release various pollutants. Yoann Fauvin, the garage owner and cousin of the taxi driver, is questioning if electric cars are truly a superior option. He highlighted the need to extract metals for battery production in countries like China or Chile, the environmental costs of transporting these materials, and the necessity of battery recycling. In his presence, a vintage green 1977 Citroen 2CV was undergoing restoration while a diesel Citroen DS4 was being fixed. He mentioned that diesel is essential for the business to thrive in the area where transitioning to electric vehicles is scoffed at by the wealthy individuals who fail to comprehend the local dynamics. Magalie Pasquet, a housewife leading a local group against wind power called Aire 45, clarified that her resistance to the installation of around 75 new turbines in the region is not a disregard for environmental issues, as she actively participates in recycling. She is cautious when it comes to traveling and is mindful of her environmental impact by composting and wearing multiple layers instead of using heating. She is inspired by the environmental idealism of young people, but she thinks that the world's priorities are out of order. "Why are we destroying a beautiful landscape that attracts people to this area when the real issue is overconsumption?" she inquired. "Local residents are not being consulted, and even mayors are unable to prevent the installation of these unsightly wind turbines." A colleague, Philippe Jacob, a management and marketing professor also involved in the anti-turbine movement, noted that the Yellow Vest movement emerged in response to increasing gasoline prices, declining purchasing power, deteriorating public services, and widespread dissatisfaction with top-down decision-making. "These same issues persist today, and the situation is becoming increasingly perilous," he warned. "Residents have put their life savings into this area, yet their concerns about the negative impact of planned turbines and biogas plants are going unheard."