A web application to discover the effects of climate change on the French coast

In France, nearly 20% of the coastline is affected by coastal erosion, and therefore by the decline of the natural coastline, based on data from a national indicator. And according to Cerema (Center for Studies and Expertise on Risks, Environment, Mobility and Planning), by the year 2050, approximately 5,200 dwellings could be affected by this coastline decline, in mainland France and in the overseas departments and regions.

The coastline is the boundary between sea and land. It is called a "retreat of the coastline" when this line moves inland. This means that some stretches of beaches, dunes or cliffs are gradually disappearing.

Coastal erosion, which causes the coastline to retreat, is a natural geological phenomenon: waves, sea currents and storms, in particular, cause progressive wear and tear of the coastline. However, the phenomenon is accelerating under the effect of climate change.

Since June 18, the web application « The coastline of my municipality » gives you access to information (key figures, maps, graphs, etc.) on coastal erosion in 1,029 coastal municipalities located in France, Corsica and the French Overseas Territories. Within the application, you must indicate the municipality on which you want to obtain information. You will then discover, among other things:

• an overview of the evolution of the coastline, through aerial photographs;
• the specific issues that exist within the municipality (the distribution of land use in this municipality – housing, agriculture, leisure, etc. –, the distribution of the way in which dwellings are occupied – primary or secondary residences, vacant or indeterminate dwellings –, protected coastal areas, etc.);
• information on the consequences of climate change for the city (expected sea level rise, etc.).

Information on the local strategy of the municipalities, for the management of the coastline, is to be integrated soon in this application.