Anticipate response of climate change on coastal risks at regional scale in Aquitaine and Languedoc Roussillon (France)

Abstract

LIFE Environment/RESPONSE project (2003–2006) aimed to evaluate and map, at regional scale, the impact of climate change on coastal risks (erosion and marine flooding), by anticipating the response to regional climatic change scenarios of coastal systems. These are described by their geomorphology, coastal processes, known hazardous events and existing defences. Application on Aquitaine and Languedoc Roussillon regions (France) assesses the likely increase of the coastal risks. In both regions, the weight of geomorphology and settlement development is underlined. The results point out the need for better knowledge on physical resilience capacity of the coast, assets values and vulnerability, and the urge of an integrated management approach of coastal risk, at least at the scale of sedimentary cell.