Adapting to Climate Change in a Coastal Territory : the archipelago of Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon

• Main Author: Philippenko, Xénia
• Other Authors: Laboratoire de géographie physique : Environnements Quaternaires et Actuels (LGP), Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (UP1)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - Paris I, Lydie Goeldner-Gianella, Gonéri Le Cozannet
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: French
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: Climate change adaptation; Coastal risks; Perceptions; Acceptability; Relocation; Governance; Insularity; Overseas territories; Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon; Adaptation au changement climatique; Risques côtiers; Acceptabilité; Relocalisation; Gouvernance; Insularité; Outre-Mer; Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon; [SHS.GEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Geography; Northwest Atlantic; Subarctic
• Online Access: https://theses.hal.science/tel-04588557; https://theses.hal.science/tel-04588557/document; https://theses.hal.science/tel-04588557/file/PHILIPPENKO.pdf

Climate change represents a major challenge for coastal areas due to sea-level rise and the exacerbation of existing risks. Islands are particularly vulnerable areas, and adaptation is a major issue. However, there are many obstacles to adaptation that delay planning and implementation. In this doctoral thesis in geography, I examine the conditions for societal and institutional adaptation in the island community of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a French subarctic archipelago (Northwest Atlantic). My research was based on quantitative and qualitative survey methods with the population and stakeholders. I explored perceptions of coastal risks and climate change, the acceptability of adaptation solutions, the governance of adaptation and the strategies implemented. My research allows us to draw several conclusions. 1) The acceptability of adaptation solutions depends on geographical and socio-cultural factors and on the individual's environmental beliefs. 2) The potential relocation of the village of Miquelon is well accepted, with attachment to the place proving to be a driver for action rather than a barrier. 3) The existence of an island community plays a role in the ability to adapt and can be either a barrier a or a driver for action, depending on how it is mobilized. 4) The local main obstacles to adaptation arise from insularity and the institutional, political, and administrative consequences of being an overseas territory. 5) The relationship between the population and the stakeholders plays a role in the implementation of adaptation: the confidence that the inhabitants have in these actors, in their actions and in the information they transmit, will influence the acceptability and implementation of adaptation. Finally, I sought to evaluate adaptation scenarios for seven study sites based on our results. Le changement climatique représente un défi majeur pour les espaces littoraux du fait de l’aggravation des risques déjà existants et de l’élévation du niveau de la mer qu’il implique. Les îles sont des ...