The Local Working Group celebrated last 17th May aims to bring together the main stakeholders of the blue economy sectors to present the project, to expose the climate modelling on an island scale and to explain how they can use the project for the minimisation of climate impacts that specifically concern them.
The event had significant participation of stakeholders. Among them, ADEME Corse was particularly interested in marine energy, sustainable tourism and maritime transport. DREAL (Direction Régionale de l’Environnement) interested in climate change vulnerabilities and the load capacity of the environment. Biotope participated, as a stakeholder in addition to being a partner in the project and STARESO especially interested in the aquaculture sector.
All these stakeholders had the opportunity to share with SOCLIMPACT difficulties and improvements experienced on climate impact issues and to participate in a round table where climate impacts were analysed by sector.
Among the problems addressed, the hydroclimatic and energy sector stands out.
The region of Corsica is currently working on the quantification of data in terms of water resources and the implementation of large infrastructures since its storage capacity is limited to 100 million cubic meters.
Another meaningful impact is the pollution caused by thermal plants and the presence of ferries in the ports, as well as sanitary problems due to the surplus of waste and problems with electricity, especially in some tourist areas where the demand for air conditioning is very high. Regarding this issue, Corsica is waiting to be connected to the European gas network to reduce its carbon footprint.
On the other hand, the energy, air and noise sector is working on a plan for its territorial management and the development of a cluster for urban expansion. This sector currently has studies on the evolution of the coasts, dissemination activities in schools and projects for the construction of a hydroelectric plant and the restoration of rivers.
Once addressed, the vulnerabilities and improvements that the region has experienced, a round table was held where similarities and differences of data processing carried out by the region and the SOCLIMPACT project were discussed.
In this sense, the one who obtains the data in the region of Corsica is the transport office where they found differences between statistical and financial data.
Among the similarities found are the use of CPR scenarios for adaptation pathways
Right now the region is in the process of renewing its territorial adaptation plans for climate, air and energy.
The priority impacts identified at the roundtable were :
– Aquaculture:
- Most of the aquaculture sector in Corsica sells its production outside of the island.
- Creation of a label rouge.
– Tourism:
- In general, they find it difficult to quantify the tourism impacts
- Touristic carrying capacity will have to be taken into account in the impacts chains
– Maritime energy:
Energy is a critical sector for Corsica. They have 33% of hydraulic power. The Ajaccio basin has the most data. But the Balagne basin has been studied academically and contains all the impacts considered by Soclimpact (however, it is not very populated).
After addressing all these impacts, this first local working group has served as a connection between the stakeholders and SOCLIMPACT to start taking advantage of the results of the project and adapt them to the climate impacts in the blue economy sector of the region of Corsica.
Right now the region is in the process of renewing its territorial adaptation plans for climate, air and energy.
The priority impacts identified at the roundtable were :
– Aquaculture:
- Most of the aquaculture sector in Corsica sells its production outside of the island.
- Establishment of Label rouge for the island. The label can be impacted and hence the economic valuation of the product.
– Tourism:
- In general they find it difficult to quantify the tourism impacts
- Touristic carrying capacity will have to be taken into account in the impacts chains
– Maritime energy:
Energy is a very important sector for Corsica. They have 33% of hydraulic power. The Ajaccio basin has the most data. But the Balagne basin has been studied academically and contains all the impacts studied by Soclimpact (however, it is not very populated).
After addressing all these impacts, this first local working group has served as a connection between the stakeholders and SOCLIMPACT to start taking advantage of the results of the project and adapt them to the climate impacts in the blue economy sector of the region of Corsica.