We had left them in June under a barnum of white canvas, planted several hundred meters from the National Assembly. We find them, Wednesday, October 19, under the chandeliers of the hall of the Palais Bourbon. Six months ago, these scientists specializing in global warming and the erosion of biodiversity organized training for deputies outside the official calendar. Their approach is now supported by the President of the Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet. “Our message has been heard. They have understood that French public research can be mobilized and perhaps a source of information to help with decision-making”welcomes Christophe Cassou, climatologist and instigator of the June operation.
This afternoon of discussions is “a first step in a training process to increase knowledge, awareness and skills”summarizes the co-author of the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). “We want to enable decision-makers to become aware of the issues and to acquire basic knowledge on climate and biodiversity”, abounds Philippe Grandcolas, ecologist and director of research at the CNRS. Economist Yamina Saheb, co-author of the IPCC, is more direct: “It’s important to talk to politicians to tell them that what they are doing now goes in the opposite direction of history.”
The first part, made up of three presentations, on the state of the climate, the solutions to limit the damage and the erosion of biodiversity, has in fact enabled the scientists to recall that France and the world are not on the right track. trajectory to limit these crises. “The inertia in front of us is not the functioning of the climate, the inertia is our ability to reduce emissions as quickly as possible and strengthen carbon sinks”hammered Valérie Masson-Delmotte, climatologist and co-president of group 1 of the IPCC.
“Any additional investment in coal, oil or fossil gas would contribute to exceeding the carbon budget to meet the Paris agreement, or to creating assets that will have to be abandoned before the end of their lifespan”continued Céline Guivarch, economist and co-author of the IPCC. “The decline in biodiversity today is 1,000 times faster than during previous historic crises in geological time”insisted Philippe Grandcolas.
In the audience, much more sparse than if the 115 elected officials had presented themselves, a few deputies photograph the slides or take notes. In introducing the speakers, the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet (Renaissance), acknowledged: “The upheavals are here and inaction is not an option.”
In conclusion of the presentations, the chairman of the commission for sustainable development and regional planning, Jean-Marc Zulesi (Renaissance) launched: “We, public decision-makers, legislators, bear an immense responsibility. Our work must make it possible to leave a habitable world for our children.” The exercise, supplemented by thematic exchanges between small groups of scientists and deputies, must be repeated in the coming months.