France identifies 500 municipalities soon to be located in uninhabitable coastal areas

In France, certain coastal areas will quickly become uninhabitable in the face of the progression of the oceans, warned Thursday April 4 the Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu. Its services will publish maps of threatened territories on Friday. Nearly 500 municipalities at risk have already been identified and the government is working with mayors to put in place “tailor-made plans”he declared on TF1.

“There will be areas that will be uninhabitable” on the coast, 20% of which is eaten away by coastal erosion, said Christophe Béchu. “The equivalent of a football field disappears every week in our country due to the progression of the oceans, a phenomenon which is accelerating”, added the minister. “We identified 500 municipalities and we started working with the mayors” to put in place “tailor-made plans”he clarified.

Erosion is eating away at 900 km of coastline

Between a thousand buildings in 2028 and several hundred thousand by 2100 will be potentially affected by coastal erosion in France, reveals a report from the Center for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility and layout. France is particularly vulnerable to coastline retreat. Erosion is eating away around 900 km of coastline. To anticipate its consequences, Cerema has drawn up three scenarios for 2028, 2050 and 2100, based in particular on aerial photos and satellite data.