Vers un indice des risques côtiers en Méditerranée

Application of a Multi-Scale Coastal Risk Index at Regional and Local Scale in the Mediterranean

Septembre 2015 par Firth John, Lafitte Antoine, Puddu Manuela, Satta Alessio et Venturini Sara

La région méditerranéenne est un « point chaud » du changement climatique. Pour étudier le rôle des facteurs climatiques et non climatiques sur les zones côtières, il est essentiel de comprendre les risques sous-jacents et d’identifier les mesures d’intervention appropriées. La méthodologie de l'indice multi-échelle des risques côtiers proposée permet une détection scientifiquement fiable des « point chaud » côtiers.

Executive summary:

The Mediterranean area is particularly affected by adverse consequences of climate variability and change coupled with existing socio-economic processes associated with growing bio-geographical vulnerability and exposure in the coastal areas of the region. As a result, Mediterranean
coastal communities and assets are increasingly at risk.

Relevant authorities are encouraged to undertake adaptation measures that are in line with the ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zones Management) Protocol of the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (Barcelona Convention) and national ICZM strategies. In this view, UNEP/Mediterranean Action Plan is developing a Regional Climate Change Adaptation Framework aimed at providing enhanced regional coordination. In synergy with a revised Mediterranean Strategy on Sustainable Development, the Regional Framework will assist stakeholders and policymakers
at all levels across the Mediterranean to take action in order to increase the resilience of the coastal natural and socio-economic systems to the impacts of climate change.

In addition, robust scientific methods are needed to assess coastal vulnerability and risks to climate variability and understanding the interaction of climate change with socio-economic and environmental systems is of increasing importance for coastal policy makers in the Mediterranean.