France has launched an initiative to fight climate change and global warming, which includes heatwave-proof homes, affordable insurance in high-risk areas, and alternative work hours.
France is preparing for a future where its beaches will erode and wildfires will increase as global warming rises by 4°C over pre-industrial levels.
On March 10, the French government presented its third national climate adaptation plan, which outlines dozens of steps to safeguard inhabitants in the event that temperatures rise to 4°C by 2100, Euronews reported.
The strategy, which was devised in collaboration with scientists and other experts, was first presented by former Prime Minister Michel Barnier in October of last year and garnered nearly 6,000 responses during a public consultation.
France has already experienced a 20% decrease in emissions since 2017, and the country is working toward becoming carbon neutral by 2050. However, scientists still anticipate that the country’s temperatures would rise by at least 4°C by 2100 as a result of the ongoing effects of burning fossil fuels, even if net zero is reached by the middle of the century.
Geographically speaking, the new strategy prioritizes four areas: agriculture, forests, mountains, and coasts. The package is intended to assist all sectors in progressively adjusting to the effects of climate change, from infrastructure and agriculture to business and transportation.
Based on forecasts from Météo-France, the country’s weather bureau, it creates a trajectory for climate adaptation. Compared to pre-industrial levels, it gradually prepares the nation for temperature increases of 2°C by 2030, 2.7°C by 2050, and 4°C by 2100.
Following that, there are five kinds of action: mobilizing national resources, adjusting human activities, conserving natural and cultural assets, protecting people, and making sure that territories and critical services are resilient.
A nationwide map of natural risk exposure should be made, insurance options should remain reasonably priced even in high-risk areas, and housing should be improved to remain comfortable in spite of rising temperatures, according to the plan.
With its climate plan, the French government indicated an ambitious agenda, despite recent backtracking on several environmental policies.
After being caught off guard by a catastrophic heatwave in 2003, France has positioned itself as a leader in adaptation to climate change. Cities like Paris are stepping up their efforts in anticipation of possible summer temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius, and the nation has a comprehensive national heatwave strategy in place.
The proposal will get €1.6 billion in fiscal resources starting in 2025. This includes €300 million from the Barnier Fund, which was established to prevent severe natural calamities, and €1 billion from the budgets of water authorities.
Although environmental organizations have praised the plan, they have expressed doubts about its ambition and the way the actions will be carried out.
Recent research from the Institute for Climate Economics suggests that at least €1.5 billion should be spent annually on agriculture, €4.4 billion on home restoration, and between €1 billion and €2.5 billion on new construction alone.
