Climate change is threatening the environment of the French Riviera through rising temperatures, more frequent droughts and heat waves, and rising sea levels. Visitors can help protect the fragile ecosystem by using less energy in their accommodations, taking public transportation or walking when possible, buying local products to support the economy, and not wasting scarce water resources. Proper disposal of waste and avoiding plastic products can also help reduce pollution of the vulnerable coastal and marine environments. Respecting protected natural areas and following regulations on fires and trespassing will allow the ecosystems to better adapt to climate impacts.

1. Help us to give your holiday
home a sustainable future
a few facts and tips for visitors on the French
Riviera

2. As in many places in the world, the French Riviera
is threatened by Climate Change and by other
impacts of human activities on its environment.
By following a few simple rules, all of us can
contribute to protect and preserve this area.

3. Climate Change
The greenhouse gases released in the atmosphere by human
activities contribute to warm the average Earth's surface
temperature. This change of composition of the atmosphere has
also changed the precipitation regime and increased the ocean
temperature. It occurs with other-related changes of our planet:
land-ice melting, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, increase of
frequency and of intensity of extreme events. All those changes are
expected to intensify in the future (though with regional differences)
and to strongly impact our environment and our societies.

4. Mediterranean area
The climate of this region is dry, with precipitation mainly limited to short events in spring and
autumn. The water resources are scarce. Because of the nearby mountains of the South Alps,
the dwellings are concentrated in a narrow line along the shore.
Since the pre-industrial times, the average surface land temperature has increased by 0.8°C
(IPCC, 2014) and this increase is expected to continue.
On the French Riviera, this will lead to longer, more intense and more frequent drought periods,
more heat waves, as well as an increase of extreme precipitation events. The expected
increase of the sea-surface and the expected change of pH of the sea waters will have a
significant impact on the fish and coral reefs, and on the sea ecosystems in general.
For more information, click on the links below:
the results from the latest IPCC report
ocean acidification

5. Minimize your own contribution
to the release of greenhouse
gases
What you can do:
● Use less energy
save air-conditioning for hottest days - close windows
and shutters in daytime, open them at nighttime
re-use towels
● Use public transport, walk, bike – relax !
you will also contribute to improved air quality
● Buy local

6. Water is scarce – do not waste it
What you can do:
● This is another good reason to re-use towels
● Take showers instead of baths
● Switch off the water tap when not needed

7. Sea environment is vulnerable
Climate Change is expected to increase the sea water temperature and to disturb the chemical
balance of sea waters (by increasing the ocean acidification). Those changes are beyond what
many ocean species can bear and adapt to.
Though some parts of the Mediterranean sea are hotspots for biodiversity if sustainably
managed, this fragile environment is put at very high risk by climate change adding on top of
pollution, overfishing and pressure from tourism activities.
What you can do:
●
do not let waste go into the sea – use waste disposals
●
use plastic as rarely as possible (in particular bags and containers) – prefer disposable to wastable
●
only buy local sea products from sustainable fishing or fisheries
●
respect protected sea areas
For more information, click on the links below:
impact of plastic on environment
oceans of plastic
pressure of overfishing on fish and ecosystems

8. Let ecosystems help us
● Ecosystems help us to adapt to Climate Change:
vegetation absorbs CO2; it attenuates the “urban heat” effect in cities.
● Green areas provide relaxing and playing areas. And they allow us to reconnect with
the nature.
● The expected more intense periods of droughtness will put pressure on vegetation.
What you can do:
● Do not pick up rare species
● Keep in walking paths
● Do not trespass on unauthorized paths especially when forest fires at risk – no open
air fires
● Use the waste disposals or bring back your waste.