Adaptation: plotting pathways is the next essential step
As stated by the European Commission there is a “lack of preparedness and disproportion between the climate threats and response mechanisms and structures in place”. One of the key factors in speeding up the implementation of adaptation actions will be the definition, in particular by public authorities, of “clear adaptation pathways setting up the process of how to achieve them through the sequence of options and actions”. The cost of these trajectories will also need to be quantified, to ensure that the human and financial resources are available for implementation. For the time being, this work of defining adaptation trajectories is generally lacking, whatever the sector or scale. And the means to be deployed for adaptation are therefore unknown.
To provide an initial response in France to these shortcomings, I4CE began identifying and budgeting measures mature enough to be deployed in the short term. They were summarized in 18 measures worth €2.3 billion a year that the French government could implement right now. However, these measures are far from covering all the needs for adaptation to a future climate, as for most sectors and territories, adaptation pathways have not yet been sketched out and discussed. To help fill this gap, I4CE has been working for several months now to plot and to quantify the costs of initial pathways for building, transport infrastructure and agriculture sectors in France.
This work could inspire initiatives in other countries, particularly in Europe. That’s why I4CE will be present next week at Adaptation Futures, the international conference, to present and discuss these insights.
