On January 23, 2023, under the presidency of Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, a panel of experts, businesses, and researchers met to discuss the urgency of adapting to climate change and the potential solutions in France. In a context marked by extreme weather phenomena such as heatwaves and floods, the focus was on the need to anticipate a potential +4°C increase in France and to analyze the non-linear impacts of climate change.
According to the IUCN, one of the keys to this adaptation lies in the integration of nature-based solutions. The French Committee of the IUCN hopes to see a strengthened role for these solutions in the consultations of the third National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (PNACC). Nature-based solutions offer viable and sustainable economic alternatives, often less costly in the long term than traditional technical solutions.
The general objective of the PNACC-2 was to implement the necessary actions to adapt the territories of mainland France and overseas to the expected regional climate changes by 2050. However, to achieve this objective, it is imperative to recognize the crucial role of ecosystems. Indeed, the proper functioning of these ecosystems is the source of a multitude of ecosystem services, essential for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change.
Commitments regarding adaptation are essential and must be more ambitious, unlike the decisions made during COP28. Despite the progress made, notably with the work on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), the language used in the texts lacks precision in financing. This gap compromises the effective realization of adaptation objectives at the global level.
Overall, to face the challenges of climate change, it is essential that France and other nations strengthen their commitments to adaptation. The PNACC-3 is therefore a highly anticipated event among experts and civil society. The IUCN will continue to advocate for the integration of nature-based solutions into adaptation policies, highlighting their crucial importance for a sustainable and resilient future.
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