The challenge of adaptation to natural risks and the fight against the impact of climate change

Global warming, the rise of the oceans, floods, forest fires and desertification: the long- lasting modification of the global climate, due to natural phenomenons or resulting from human activities,  requires the reduction of our use of fossil energy, as well as the improvement of the energetic performances and the production of renewable energies. This means taking individual and collective measures by organisations, public administrations, corporations, and everyone; as such, it will offer opportunities for economic, social and environmental innovations.

The preservation of fauna, flora  and the natural environments

The preservation of natural areas and their resources is a necessity. Furthermore, the connection to biodiversity is a source of education for the respect of nature and its beauty, its richness being a source of awakening and inspiration. The continued existence  of this natural inheritance must be safeguarded for the survival of fauna and flora, their reproduction and development  and the protection of their natural grounds, which is the only way of favoring the diversity of the ecosystems.

The protection of the biological equilibriums of the seas, oceans, corals, and the aquatic natural spaces of the lakes and rivers

For centuries, humanity acted as if seas and oceans, the actual lungs of the earth, as well as lakes and rivers, were infinite resources capable of feeding us and absorbing all our wastes. Against the inexorable extinction of our coral reefs, of our mangroves, the drying up of our swamps and wetlands, the threat on areas of reproduction for fishes, the melting of the ice caps, most aquatic areas are in danger, as well as the eco-systemic resources, fisheries and even hunting in the Great North. The list of the threats weighting on our natural aquatic areas is endless : waste waters, pesticides, oil pollution, plastics and even aquaculture. We need to ensure a sustainable production of fish and a resilience of  the maritime ecosystems while insuring the preservation of biodiversity.

Solar, wind, geothermal, marine and biomass energy as well as the control of the energy consumption

Research, development, undertakings and projects are multiplying in the field of renewable energies, new technologies are being implemented by corporations and public administrations. These actions for a sustainable development will spare natural resources and provide a better energetic efficiency.

As a great consumer of resources, energies and a source of artificialization of the soils and of greenhouse gas emissions, our housing has a strong impact on the climate and biosphere.

To conceive, develop and maintain a “sustainable city”, is a fertile ground for environmental, cultural, social and economic innovations, thanks to adequate infrastructures and strategies, a network of associations, incubators, fablabs and “third-places”. Shared mobility, a housing of high environmental quality, low consumption yet accessible for all , are the conditions of a greater quality of social life , as a growing part of the population imagines its life in locations in harmony with nature : new rurals, communities, eco-places and other alternative lifestyles.

Sustainable Tourism on Land and Water, in Cities and the Countryside

The eco-tourist is a responsible traveller who consciously works to limit his or her impact on the environment: he travels in natural environments where resources and populations are respected. The lone traveller discovers landscapes and eco-systems, creates exchanges with the populations he meets, safeguards the sites. Slow tourism, eco-tourism on rivers or in forests, even rural or urban, is the opposite of mass-tourism.

Responsible agriculture, soil and forest management and resources, the fight against deforestation

Sustainable agriculture, permaculture, biodynamic, agroecology, sustainable breeding : the management of resources aims at preserving the soils and reduce waste products while allowing for the perpetuation of species on a long term basis. The protection and management of forests and wood resources help to develop economic, environmental and social goals that increase their resilience.

Urban and public transports, transports by rail, on rivers, in the air and inter-modality

Eco-mobility by less- polluting transports, with a lower impact on the environment and health : car-sharing or hybrid/electric/hydrogen cars and buses, piggybacking or waterway transports, trams or bikes in the city, cyclo-tourism or hiking tours and inter-modality, combining several transportation means, and technologies to optimize the use of infrastructures.

Eco-labelled products, Fair trade, Collective Consumption

To engage in responsible consumption as a consumer means being aware of geographic origin, buying regionally or locally, favouring a label respectful of the environment, promoting fair trade, reducing use of packaging, fighting against over-consumption, using selective waste-sorting, and giving preference to usage over ownership.

Quality of life through the protection of the environment, health safety and prevention, treatment and quality of water, air and soil, waste management

Urban living, sound pollution, electronic or toxic, junk food, stress … It is obvious that our lifestyles must evolve to protect our health and our wellbeing by choosing a healthy nutrition (vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, organic…), remembering the importance of social links and intergenerational transmission, of traditional and alternative medicines, respecting ancestral customs. To cultivate one’s inner life means to reconnect with oneself and nature, to understand the links between environmental, animal and human health as revealed by the recent pandemic. The search for equilibrium and harmony must become the heart of our priorities.

Solidarity and actions against exclusion, illiteracy, poverty or disability, for food and energy security.

Solidarity and humanitarian assistance means to relieve human beings that suffer hunger or cold, are disabled or illiterate, are refugees or of racial or cultural diversity. These social actions for education, culture, health-care, access to energy, food and clean water , try to relieve victims of natural or , increasingly, man-made disasters.

The responsibility of corporations, individuals and organisations as to their effect on society

The social and environmental commitment of a corporation (CSR) means that corporate leadership integrates social responsibilities in their activities and investments: well-being at work, in-house training, equal opportunities, occupational health, environmental care, respect for the public.

Protection of women, children and elderlies, respect of diversity, LGBTs, rights of disabled or migrant people

What are human rights about? The protection of children and women of all types of violence, the acceptance of others and their differences, the awareness of non-violence and equality of rights for every human being and, notably, access to work and a decent living, and ,finally, dignity in old age and the end of life. For political refugees, economic and climatic migrants, for displaced farmers, a real policy of integration is required. Human rights include the respect of diversities, including cultural, racial, social, religious, sexual and gender diversity. Those are natural rights, imprescriptible, inalienable and inherent to the person.