Case Study

"No Regrets" Initiatives - France

Updated: 26 September 2024

Europe - France

by bruxelle via AdobeStock

Climate change impacts

Based on the IPCC's SRES B2 and A2 of GHG Emissions Scenarios, a French future forecast (2070-2099) predicts that the yearly mean temperature will increase by 2-2.5°C and 3-3.5°C from 1960-1989, respectively, and that the average rainfall in winter will increase while the average rainfall in summer will decrease.

Adaptation activity

The French Second National Plan for Climate Change Adaptation (see Figure) was set out in December 2018, and six issues were addressed: 1) Governance, 2) Prevention and Resilience, 3) Natural Environment, 4) Economics, 5) Knowledge and Information, and 6) International Initiatives. Working groups were created to take the lead in each area of investigation. Of these, the group tasked with “Prevention and Resilience” tackled the challenges of prevention and risk management related to specific hazards such as climate change-related floods and droughts. The group has four objectives: prioritizing strategies that are “win-win” and envisage change with “no regrets.”

The "No regrets" initiatives consider other social, economic, and environmental challenges. Once identified, they are easy to implement and provide a solid basis for future action. The “no regret” approach is employed in many initiatives related to mitigation.

Outputs / Expected benefits

"No regret" measures are expected to be easier to implement because they offer benefits outside of climate change mitigation. Recommendations are not merely defensive measures but are intended to promote a shift towards preventive thinking and "confronting the causes of climate change while living with its impacts."

 

National Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2018-2022
(Source: Ministère de la Transition Ēcologique et Solidaire “Le Plan National d’Adaptation au Changement Climatique”)

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