Better manage water in Gard, we know, it has become a major issue. Like many departments, Gard is strongly affected by effects of climate change. Every summer, certain communities meet without water for several weeks or even months. So for identify solutions and adapt to new climatic realities, the Departmental Council has just launched the second phase of its “Water & Climate” project.
With this idea, the Department organizes four meetings in the next two weeks, each in a territory of Gard: the Cévennes, Garrigues and Plains, the Rhone Belt and the Camargue. These meetings will allow a direct exchange between citizens and officials of the project to imagine appropriate responses together. “What matters is the vision of citizens and what solutions could be adapted to their territory”specifies Bérengère Noguier, Deputy Vice-President for Ecological Transition and Biodiversity.
Think together about sustainable solutions for the Gard climate
“There will be a first plenary sequence with ecofictions”explains the elected official. These ecofictions are imaginary scenarios about the life in Gard in 2050, built from serious studies. They will be presented in the form of sound recordings, where citizens describe this hypothetical future.
After this introduction, participants will be divided into small groups of around ten people to discuss possible solutions. These discussions will cover various topics such as the creation of new infrastructureadaptation to savings or even actions of awareness. Each group will need to assess whether these ideas are feasible, appropriate and locally acceptable. At the same time, a website, eauclimat.gard.frallows all citizens to contribute online.
An action plan for each territory of Gard
The final stage of “Water & Climate” is planned for next summer. A restitution forum will allow the results of the discussions to be presented. At the end of this event, the Gard Departmental Council will have a precise action plan and adapted to each territory. The solutions selected may vary according to local needs and will be based on the directions defined in the 2020 strategy.
This project is based on the foundations laid during the first phase, where a detailed diagnosis of water-related issues was established for the four territories of Gard. This step was based on a study conducted in 2020. Last June, meetings were organized to include residents in the reflection. “The idea was to share knowledge and enrich the diagnosis with everyone’s experience, since we all have a tap at home”concludes Bérengère Noguier.
