• Teacher-researcher at the University of Côte d'Azur, Paola Furla analyzes the consequences of global warming on our territory.

  • She wonders, for example, if the organisms present near the coast will have sufficient time to adapt to their new environment.

  • It points to the appearance of new pathogenic species which are decimating part of the marine habitat.

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published in August is clear: global warming will cause sea level to rise by the end of the century.

Direct consequences on the Riviera coast.

Paola Furla, who is part of the international associated laboratory (LIA) ROPSE "Response of organisms and populations facing environmental stress" at the University of Côte d'Azur and the Scientific Center of Monaco, returned to these expected phenomena "very worrying for our biodiversity ”.

What conclusions can you bring between your studies and the last IPCC report?

With rising temperature, falling pH, and increasing catastrophic events, it is questionable whether organisms will have enough time to adapt to all of these changes.

What does this induce?

Due to global warming, we observe the appearance of new pathogenic species which take the place of the organisms already present.

This is illustrated by the loss of our large mother-of-pearl

pinna nobilis

, this imposing mussel that was very present in the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer.

She suffered an attack from a microalgae which ended up decimating her.

How do these phenomena have an impact on our society?

In Nice, as in all coastal towns, the coastline has an important place.

It is our economic and nutritious breeding ground.

The consequences are being felt now with a decrease in the local fishery because the fish biomass is more limited.

But also with higher risks of having more and more coastal damage.

Rising sea levels will not happen all at once, disasters will create damage.

We can already see this with the more frequent work to redo the walking areas along the coast.

We must change the way we approach this coastline to avoid changing our biodiversity.

How to do ?

The whole planet must get on with it.

Each citizen can act in his daily life.

But this can only be achieved with a real political effort.

Coastal towns have a role to play, especially since the coastline also means tourism.

With the confinement, we realized that the species were returning with less impacting urban activities.

The local can have its effect in preserving our planet.

The question is whether we have really realized the need to do so before experiencing major events.

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  • Global warming

  • Planet

  • Nice

  • Environment

  • IPCC