Paris Unveils Ambitious Climate Adaptation Strategy
Paris, February 10 – Emmanuel Grégoire, the leading candidate for the left-wing coalition (excluding LFI) in the upcoming Paris municipal elections, revealed an extensive ecological transformation plan on Monday. The initiative aims to adapt the city to the escalating challenges of climate change, with a particular focus on mitigating the effects of rising temperatures and enhancing urban resilience.
The plan comes in response to alarming data, including a 2023 report from The Lancet Planetary Health, which identified Paris as the European capital with the highest mortality rate during heatwaves. Projections suggest that by 2030, temperatures in Paris could reach a scorching 50°C during extreme heat events.
Protecting the Vulnerable and Creating ‘Cool Refuges’
Recognizing that “ecology is first and foremost a public health policy,” Grégoire’s proposal prioritizes the protection of the most vulnerable residents during heatwaves. Key measures include:
- Multiplying “cool refuges”: Establishing numerous accessible, air-conditioned spaces where residents can seek relief from the heat.
- Requisitioning office building lobbies: In emergency situations, air-conditioned office building lobbies will be utilized as temporary cooling centers.
- Climate-proofing public buildings: All city-owned public buildings, especially schools, will undergo thermal renovations. This includes the installation of green courtyards, blinds, and fans, as well as the creation of “cool rooms” without relying on air conditioning.
The candidate emphasized the importance of these measures in safeguarding public health and ensuring the well-being of Parisians as temperatures continue to rise.
Transforming Public Spaces for Climate Protection
A significant component of Grégoire’s plan involves the radical transformation of public spaces to serve as “tools for climate protection.” This includes:
- Expanding “children’s streets”: The number of pedestrianized streets, known as “children’s streets” or “school streets,” will increase from 300 to 1,000.
- Temporary pedestrianization: Temporary pedestrianization will be permitted for local associative or festive events, fostering community engagement and reducing vehicular traffic.
- Greening iconic squares: Five new squares are slated for extensive greening initiatives: Place de la Concorde, Place Gambetta, Place du Trocadéro, Place d’Italie, and Place de la Bataille-de-Stalingrad.
- Re-greening Place de la République: Even the Place de la République, which underwent a 20-million-euro renovation in 2013, will see further greening efforts.
- “Right to beauty” and urban furniture: Grégoire, echoing right-wing candidate Rachida Dati, advocates for a “right to beauty” and improved coherence in urban furniture, which has been criticized for its lack of aesthetic appeal.
A cornerstone project is the transformation of the périphérique (ring road) into an “urban boulevard,” incorporating bus links to the suburbs on certain sections and eventually dedicated cycling lanes. The “gates of Paris” will be redeveloped into “dynamic squares.”
For pedestrians, both banks of the Seine will offer a continuous, green 25-kilometer promenade, with planned developments between the Debilly footbridge and Concorde in the west, and between the Port de l’Arsenal and the Bercy gardens in the east.
New Recreational Spaces and Urban Greening
The plan also introduces exciting new recreational opportunities and further expands green infrastructure:
- “Bastille Beach” in Port de l’Arsenal: A new summer swimming site, dubbed “Plage de la Bastille,” will open in the Port de l’Arsenal.
- Uncovering the Bièvre River: Portions of the Bièvre, a tributary of the Seine, will be uncovered, restoring natural waterways within the city.
- Expanding Petite Ceinture access: An additional 10 kilometers of the Petite Ceinture (former railway line) will be made accessible, bringing the total accessible length to 20 kilometers out of 32.
- 300 new hectares of gardens: In line with the bioclimatic urban planning document, Grégoire reiterates the commitment to creating “300 new hectares of gardens.”
- Ten new parks: Ten new parks will emerge on certain boulevards, replacing traffic lanes while maintaining local access.
- Ten “XXL playgrounds”: Two of these large playgrounds will be located in the Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes.
Adapting Housing and Mobilizing Every Square Meter
The third pillar of the plan focuses on adapting housing and maximizing urban cooling potential:
- “Shutter plan” for social housing: A major “shutter plan” will be implemented in social housing to improve insulation and reduce heat gain.
- 200,000 thermal renovations: A total of 200,000 housing units will undergo thermal renovations, including 35,000 social housing units.
- De-bituminization of courtyards: Courtyards of apartment buildings will be de-bituminized to combat urban heat islands.
- Adapting zinc roofs: Grégoire aims to “mobilize every square meter to cool the city,” which includes adapting zinc roofs, opening “shared and greened roofs,” and incentivizing motorists to park underground with attractive residential rates.
Criticism and Funding Concerns
The plan has, however, drawn criticism from political opponents. Émile Meunier, an ecologist recently aligned with LFI candidate Sophia Chikirou, dismissed the proposals as “mystification.” He argued that “with constant resources, it is impossible to accelerate housing renovation, the cycling plan, or the creation of new parks,” suggesting that the city continues to prioritize “concreting and building offices” on the last remaining undeveloped land.
The team of Pierre-Yves Bournazel, the Horizons-Renaissance candidate, echoed these concerns, stating, “There is not a word about financing. These are therefore only empty promises.” They also highlighted that Grégoire’s proposal to redevelop Place de la République and Place Gambetta, which have already cost Parisian taxpayers over 30 million euros, represents “an admission of failure.”
Yves Contassot, co-president of FNE (France Nature Environnement) Paris, commented that “the intentions are generous, but it is not realistic in six years,” expressing skepticism about the feasibility of creating “300 additional hectares of gardens.”
The implementation and financing of these ambitious projects will undoubtedly be central themes in the upcoming municipal elections, as Paris grapples with the urgent need to adapt to a changing climate.
Source: https://www.boursorama.com/actualite-economique/actualites/a-paris-gregoire-devoile-son-plan-pour-adapter-la-ville-au-rechauffement-climatique-910aa61b6c5a978e36fee3b5d9d9f159
