FR25 CC Climate change, Adaptation and Biodiversity

Dunkirk is a coastal and polder territory that should be confronted to climate change : rising water levels risks bound to global warming, marine submersion or floods risks bound to climatical disruptions...

Public actions are being undertaken to develop the adaptation and the resilience of the territory: reinforcement of the dikes, protection of structures by sand deposition, urban developments to block the marine invasion, investments to allow the evacuation of inland waters... 

In addition of the actions of the State and the local authorities, it’s essential to inform the population so that people understand the issues and can play a positive role to fight against these risks.

A local association play this role fully, the Permanent Center for Environmental Initiatives Maritime Flander (CPIE FM in French).

Animators from this association presented to students the issues and the risks to which the Dunkirk territory and, especially, its inhabitants are confronted in the background of climate change.

In a second time, in a complementary way, the animators brought the students’ attention to biodiversity issues : traces of endemic and non-native animal species on the beach, presence of waste and, especially, plastic one. A waste collection was organized so as to analyse what constitutes waste and what does not, and to make aware the students of the significant presence of visible pollution and the impact it can have on biodiversity and our environment.

These activities helped students understand that climate change can have a real impact on a territory and that this one needs to act in order to adapt itself and to be resilient. They helped them also to realise that it’s important to preserve their environment, to protect biodiversity from pollution which is everywhere present.