REGIONs4CLIMATE / Resilient Regions / South Aquitaine
Challenges and solutions
Due to its exposure to the Atlantic Ocean and highly urbanised and populated waterfront, the region is primarily concerned with coastal risks, especially coastal flooding occurrences, with consequences predicted to be amplified by climate change.
An Adaptive Use Strategy depending on the real-time risk exposure of these waterfront areas will be developed to create a balance between population safety, infrastructure protection and preservation of economic activities.
Local authorities and stakeholders will be involved in the co-designing of the new management strategy.
Saint Jean de Luz Baie.
Source: Observatoire de la côte de Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Agence Odds, 2020
South Aquitaine has committed to
Developing an Adaptive Use Strategy for waterfronts based on real-time risk knowledge
Improving the local monitoring and forecasting capacity for the impacts of extreme ocean storms on the coast
Creating sustainable and innovative long-term coastal defence systems
Several innovative actions
Social
Training local administrations, coastal users and citizens about the risks and need for adaptation that climate change poses to their lives near the coast.
Saint Jean de Luz Baie Vue Semaphore.
Source: Isabelle Larronde
Environmental
Monitoring and forecasting coastal dynamics and ocean storm impacts in real-time to help in implementing the right measures at the right time and place, to lower coastal risks at the local scale.
Saint Jean de Luz Sainte Barbe.
Source: Observatoire de la côte de Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Agence Odds, 2020
Economic
Generating tools and services to support the preservation of coastal economic activities.
Assessing, communicating, and mitigating costs related to climate impacts based on these tools.
Saint Jean de Luz Erromardie.
Source: Observatoire de la côte de Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Agence Odds, 2020
Policy and governance
Improving public management strategies on urbanised waterfronts exposed to climate risks, and supporting the development of long-term adaptation policies including both coastal defence and retreat options.
Saint Jean de Luz Baie Grande Plage.
Source: Isabelle Larronde
Faster Adaptation Challenge Suite
South Aquitaine is part of the Faster Adaptation Challenge Suite, whose frontrunner region is the Basque Country. The Challenge Suite recognises the need for innovation and faster adaptation to combat climate change and reduce climate-related risks while safeguarding coastal ecosystem integrity.
Through these proposed demonstrations of innovation actions, South Aquitaine is well on its way to becoming a leading example of climate resilience in Europe.
Discover the other regions in the
Faster Adaptation Challenge Suite
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