A69 construction site, shocking declarations from Laurent Wauquiez on the Zero Net Artificialization plan… the consumption of natural spaces is in the news. But actually, what is it, and concretely what needs to be done? We take stock with NOWU, France Télévision’s environmental digital media.
The A69 construction site is temporarily suspended, following the thirst strike of three activists and pending a meeting of local elected officials which should be held on Friday October 13. And one of the issues raised by this project is that of soil artificialization, that is to say the alteration of the ecological functions of a soil.
In the quantitative analyses, we speak more broadly of the consumption of natural, agricultural and forestry spaces, which refers to the creation or extension of urban spaces. It could be building a housing estate in place of a wood, a store in meadows or… a highway in fields.
And every year in France, 21,000 hectares are consumed on average, an area twice the size of Paris. Since 2009, cumulatively, we have reached an area equivalent to that of the Rhône department.
What problems does the artificialization of soils pose?
This has several consequences. First, the acceleration of loss of biodiversitysince it contributes to the reduction of the habitat of animal or plant species.
But also the acceleration of global warmingsince the vegetation which disappears no longer allows CO2 to be stored, the amplification of flood riskssince waterproofed floors do not absorb water, and the reduction of agricultural land which are used to produce food.
The Zero Net Artificialization plan, to set national objectives
A major policy has been implemented across France: the Zero Net Artificialization plan (ZAN). Its goal is to halve the rate of consumption of natural, agricultural and forest areas by 2030, and by 2050, to no longer artificialize anything without providing compensationlike the restoration of other natural spaces.
Concretely, 65% of space consumption comes from housing constructionit is the main contributor to land artificialization. And this can be linked to the fact that three-quarters of housing is under-occupied in France : either because there is more space than necessary in relation to the number of inhabitants, or because it is only occupied part of the year, or because it is not occupied all the time All.
On this subject, several avenues can be studied: using unoccupied buildings, demonstrating that the ideal of the pavilion with individual garden is not ecologically virtuous, having a stricter policy concerning second homes, etc.
This is in line with the idea of a policy of sobriety, which can also be applied to the development of economic activity zones and transport routes and which will have to be put in place if the State wants to keep the commitments made with the plan. ZAN.
NOWU it’s the positive media to get informed and take action for the planet! Its mission: to enable young Europeans to become actors in the face of environmental challenges through guilt-free and solution-oriented content.