Climate crisis prompts call for policy reassessment

Stéphane Salord, co-president of the Arc Fleuve Vivant association, has urged a reevaluation of territorial development policies in response to recent climate-related crises. He highlighted the need to address risks posed by extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and wildfires, which have increasingly impacted regions like Provence.

Heavy rains hit Provence with record rainfall

Heavy rains struck Provence on 19 and 20 October 2026, causing significant damage and one death in Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts. Rainfall reached up to 240 millimeters in 24 hours at Port-de-Bouc, and similar high amounts were recorded in other areas, representing between a third and over 40% of the annual average rainfall for those regions.

Wildfires and heavy rain compound environmental damage

This event followed a summer of severe wildfires that burned over 45,000 hectares of forest in France, surpassing the total for the entire year of 2025. The combination of fire and heavy rain has worsened soil erosion and landslides, causing damage in areas like Istres and Saint-Chamas, and leading to road closures and train disruptions.

Clay soil shrinkage affects large parts of France

The impact of extreme weather is further complicated by clay soil shrinkage and expansion, which affects a significant portion of the French territory. According to a national exposure map from January 2026, 55% of France is classified as having moderate or high exposure to this risk, affecting over 12.1 million homes, with Aix-en-Provence being particularly vulnerable.

Infrastructure damage highlights climate vulnerability

The recent heavy rains triggered landslides and road closures, revealing the vulnerability of infrastructure to climate-related events. These incidents are part of a broader trend of increasing climate challenges, including droughts, wildfires, and soil instability, with Météo-France noting a doubling in the frequency of heavy precipitation events in the Mediterranean since the 1960s.

Calls for moratoriums and public engagement

Salord has advocated for temporary bans on projects that could increase flooding risks or alter water flow, especially in high-risk areas. He emphasized the need to assess the cumulative effects of multiple projects on a basin level and to make hydrological data accessible to the public, ensuring local communities can participate in decision-making.