Cyclones, levels of the seas, drought … French overseas « on the front line » in the face of global warming-Liberation
Faced with the procession of extreme meteorological events, the French ultramarine territories are among « The most exposed » to global warming and its consequences, alerts the Action Climate network in a report Posted this Tuesday, June 3. Whether it is cyclones devastators like Chido, prolonged droughts or floods recurring.
Based on existing scientific data enriched with local testimonies, the document draws up a panorama of threats which weigh on the eleven overseas territories inhabited in France.
The study notably warns against a 13 % increase most violent cyclones (Categories 4 and 5) In a climate warming scenario at + 2 ° C, like Chido, category 4 cyclone, which struck Mayotte in December and left at least 40 dead.
Other alert signals: the rapid elevation of sea level, The accelerated disappearance of coral reefs – 70 % are already degraded in Guadeloupe -, « More frequent, long and intense droughts » or « »The decline in the coastline which will swallow sides of territories ”. « These impacts have chain repercussions » And « Endanger human lives, ecosystems and local economic fabrics »warns the report.
« This vulnerability is certainly linked to geographic factors, but above all to structural weaknesses »says Benjamin Crettenand, author of the report, noting that several ultra -brand regions « Are in precarious situations with (…) dependence on the French State »complicating their adaptation.
These risks also strike territories already marked by strong inequalities. In Mayotte, 77 % of the population lives below the national poverty line, according to INSEE. The rate reaches 53 % in Guyana and 42 % in Reunion. Access to drinking water illustrates this vulnerability. In Guadeloupe, the cubic meter costs 6.52 euros, a national record, compared to € 4.19/m³ in France. In several territories, up to 63 % of The water is lost Because of dilapidated networks.
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« »Adaptation is no longer an option but an urgent necessity ”insists the organization, which asks « Financial means up to the challenges » and « Climatic policies thought at the local level ».
As COP30 approaches in November in Belém, Brazil, the Action Climate network also calls for better representation of overseas in negotiations. “Today, there is no system set up to ensure the representation of overseas territories in the French delegation. It would be good to have representatives by territory to bring their expertise and their gaze ”estimates Benjamin Crettenand.
