“Who will agree to have two hours of water per day ?”, a Montpellier resident on the front line of climate change

Yves Tramblay, hydrologue et chercheur à l'IRD pour le volet Méditerranée du 6e rapport du GIEC Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

Hydrologist and climate expert during the 6th IPCC report, Yves Tramblay will give a lecture on Tuesday January 16 at the University of Montpellier. For the scientist, a city as attractive as Montpellier will have to make compromises so that everyone has access to the necessary daily resources. 

You participated in research during the 6th IPCC report. What is the state of global warming in Montpellier ? 

We can already say that temperatures are increasing considerably. It is not far from Montpellier that national temperature records were recorded with more than 46°; in the Gard in 2019. On the other hand, we are observing a recurrence of droughts and there too, we had quite striking examples this year and the previous year.

We are still in a period of drought in our territory. All French water tables were well recharged in the fall and early winter, except in the Mediterranean region and in our region. 

Also read: MAP. "Tropical Nights" : Montpellier, Alès, Perpignan… here are the towns in Occitanie which will be the most affected

What are the different consequences of these changes on our daily lives ? 

Agriculture in our region is dependent on watering. In the coming years, it will be more and more difficult to provide the irrigation necessary for agriculture of the region. If it is hot, there is less rain, so we need to water more while paradoxically, we will lack water.

Our territory is considered a global warming hotspot. For what reason ? 

Mediterranean temperatures are increasing significantly faster than the rest of the world. This speed is all the more harmful for biodiversity and climate change. In the case of our territory, it is the rise of the Saharan desert climate towards the north which multiplies this phenomenon. 

Stop irrigating crops ? Imagine the economic consequences… Ration water ? Who will accept having only two hours of water each day. .. Quite mechanically, we will have problems and choices to make.

The IPCC report allows us to make recommendations. Which ones should be applied in Montpellier ? 

The IPCC report is not only a bird of doom, it also proposes solutions to be put in place to adapt. There are very concrete avenues to optimize the management of drinking water, water supply… The future scenario depends on the choices we make now.< /p>

It is obvious that if we reach 4 degrees, the consequences will be catastrophic in many areas. Entire chapters are devoted to adaptation. It's up to our policies to seize it. 

Also read: Heatwave: up to 73° C on a children's playground, when temperatures in the streets of Montpellier reach peaks

Are economic consequences also to be feared ?

There are already very significant impacts on viticulture, its yields and its production, for example. These are pretty rapid changes. Not in 100 years or 50 years, just a few decades. But as we are dealing with practices that have been in place for centuries, it is very difficult to move awareness towards action. 

Tourism will also be strongly impacted by a very sharp increase in droughts during the summer period. Cities like Vias or Agde will no longer be able to meet the needs of such a tourist population. We must expect transformations in the economic and social activity of our territory.

Montpellier nevertheless remains one of the most attractive areas in France. Is this compatible with our resources ? 

This could be complicated. Our resources are not infinite, and even diminishing. We will have to make trade-offs: stop irrigating crops ? Imagine the economic consequences… Ration water ? Who will accept having only two hours of water # 39;water every day… Quite mechanically, we will have problems and choices to make. 

We are witnessing a return of climate skepticism. What do you think of this trend ? 

The more we come face to face with the walls, having to make decisions, the more we confront different interests, particularly economic ones. We must not be fooled, these are not people alone behind their screen, it is a communication strategy organized by lobbies, business groups to protect their own interests to the detriment of climate. 

Free transport, tree planting… Are local public policies up to the challenge ?& nbsp;

There is no magic measure. Policies will need to touch all aspects of society and adaptation is needed across all sectors. If we want to achieve something, we must take these measures jointly; both on transport, carbon emissions, irrigation reductions, use that people make of water… It's still quite ambitious.

According to a recent geological study, the rise in water levels will be three times faster than expected on our coasts. Floods, erosion… Are we sufficiently prepared ? 

The rise in sea levels is inevitable on a millennium scale, whatever we do now in terms of mitigation or reduction policy. It's quite catastrophic to say that as humans, we have succeeded in setting up a phenomenon that will last a thousand years. 

It will be extremely difficult to fight against this on our territory because our coastal reliefs are very flat. Re-sanding has been carried out regularly for some time in Villeneuve les Maguelone for example. The only way to adapt to rising water levels today is to move backwards, to leave the seafronts. 

Also read: "A third of the city would need to be greened to gain 0.5°C", Montpellier facing heat islands

Bio express

Brand new research director of the research and development institute, affiliated with at the ministries of research and foreign affairs, researcher and hydrologist Yves Tramblay actively participated in this project. to the 6th report of the IPCC.
Specialized in forecasting and adaptation to droughts, the scientist carries out work on adaptation to climate risks in developing countries, more specifically ;particularly in the Maghreb and around the Mediterranean.

This Tuesday, January 16, Yves Tramblay will give a conference at the university of Montpellier entitled “Climate change and hydrological risks in the Mediterranean”. Appointment  &agrav; the Peytavin amphitheater (Polytech Montpellier, building 31, Triolet campus).

Registration free but required (limited places).

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