Understanding the climate in our region
The diagnosis of the Territorial Climate Air Energy Plan enables us to measure the impact of our territory on the climate and to identify the risks we will have to face in the years to come.
In 2022, the Cœur de France region emitted around 124,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases, or almost 7 tonnes per inhabitant. These emissions come mainly from road transport, which accounts for 40 % of the total, and agriculture, which accounts for 35 %. Residential heating and tertiary activities account for the bulk of emissions. This situation can be explained by the heavy reliance on private cars in a rural area, but also by the importance of agricultural activity and the presence of major roads such as the A71 motorway.
Although emissions have fallen since 2008, this is still not enough to achieve the national goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. So we need to step up our efforts.
However, our region has one major asset: its natural capacity to store carbon. Agricultural soils, grasslands and forests store around 3.9 million tonnes of carbon. Every year, vegetation captures more carbon than it releases, thanks in particular to the growth of forests. This storage capacity is an asset that must be preserved and enhanced, in particular by supporting appropriate agricultural practices, developing hedgerows and promoting sustainable forest management.
Climate change will also have a direct impact on our living environment. Projections show a significant rise in temperatures between now and the end of the century, which could exceed +3°C in our region. Heat waves will be more frequent, droughts longer and episodes of heavy rain more intense. These changes will have tangible effects: pressure on water resources, increased risk of flooding, more fragile buildings due to the shrinking and swelling of clay, a possible drop in agricultural yields and pressure on biodiversity.
Our commitment to the climate
Given this situation, our action is organised around two complementary priorities.
The first is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. This involves renovating homes to make them more energy-efficient, developing alternatives to private car use, helping businesses and farmers to make the transition, and developing local renewable energies.
The second priority is to adapt our region to the already visible effects of climate change. We need to anticipate heat-related risks, preserve water resources, adapt our agricultural practices and integrate these issues into the planning of our municipalities.
The diagnosis shows that the Coeur de France has concrete levers for action. By mobilising elected representatives, economic players and residents, we can reduce our impact on the climate while strengthening the resilience of our region. The Climate Plan is the collective roadmap for making this transition a success.