Solutions to the challenges of climate change in coastal areas
The aim of this research partnership is to develop strategies to help low-lying coastal areas, where human activity plays an important economic role, adapt to the effects of climate change.
The partnership agreement was signed on 6 February by Pascal Berteaud, Director General of Cerema, and Patrick Dalla, Industrial Director of Salins. This collaboration will result in joint actions to model, observe, and conduct experiments on the challenges of climate change, such as rising sea levels, environmental pressures, and repurposing business activity.
Salins is a group that produces and sells salt which is made in these low-lying coastal areas. Cerema, now a member of the Instituts Carnot network, is deeply involved in the research and development of solutions to modify urban planning in coastal areas, its work falling under the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change. It provides its expertise in scientific research, to improve our understanding of how low-lying coastal areas will evolve as climate change progresses.
International research
The agreement will expand Cerema’s international research to apply environmental science and engineering to help low-lying coastal areas adapt to these global challenges.
Planned areas of research include:
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Development of protection against coastal risk, in consideration of the following factors:
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Submersion of low-lying areas
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Protective structures in low-lying areas
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Interaction between estuaries and coastlines
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Environmental pressures, with a focus on:
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Microplastics
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Ecological changes (flora and fauna)
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Repurposing economic activity, osmotic energy in particular[1]
Cerema and Salins are already looking into ways they can work together to reinforce protective measures and fight coastal erosion.
[1]Osmotic energy is energy that is collected in places like estuaries (where fresh water mixes with sea water) by harnessing the power of osmosis across a membrane, in an appropriate material, that separates masses of water with different levels of salinity.