The environment and sustainable development have received unprecedented political and social attention during the five years Sarkozy: proactive statements, ambitious reforms, etc. However, the overall interpretation of reforms and policies should not be limited to an analysis of the proactive political discourse of a newly elected President or seeking to re-balance his/her supporters in anticipation of mid-term elections. Beyond the announcement effects, the challenge is to consider the longer-term effects of these reforms and policies on the steering of environmental public action, sectoral policies and the representation of environmental interests. The chapter is divided into three parts: the policy introduction of environmental and sustainable development issues, the main reforms and policies that marked the five-year term, and finally, a brief analysis of the main effects observed.