Capabilités et adaptation en Île-de-France. De la difficulté à intégrer les capabilités dans les plans locaux d’adaptation au changement climatique

Résumé Fr En

Alors que l’attention portée à l’échelle mondiale à l’adaptation au changement climatique s’intensifie, l’objet de cet article est d’étudier l’évolution des stratégies d’adaptation à l’échelle locale, au sein de trois territoires franciliens. Notamment parce que l’incertitude liée aux risques est forte au niveau local, nous plaidons pour une approche transformationnelle de l’adaptation, s’appuyant sur les capabilités. Nous montrons toutefois que l’adaptation reste principalement envisagée sous l’angle de la réduction des risques environnementaux. Jusqu’à présent, la participation du public met peu en avant les capabilités valorisées par les populations. La désectorialisation des politiques climatiques permet néanmoins de mieux inclure les citoyens.

Multilateral agreements at the global level have not succeeded in stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Following this assessment, a new way to look at climate issues seems necessary. Interest in adaptation is growing internationally, and transformational adaptation emerges today as a promising concept to address strategies of both mitigation and adaptation. In this article, we propose a new approach to consider local adaptation strategies based on capabilities. Relying on three case studies of local authorities in Île-de-France, we characterize their recent local adaptation strategies and analyse how these have taken capabilities into account. Different institutional tools allow for various ways of integrating capabilities. Plans Climat, which rely on technical studies, address administrations and professionals rather than citizens. Agendas 21 may provide a more holistic approach, but fail to address citizens’ needs in order for them to act for adaptation. As for calls for associative or citizens projects, competition for funding does not foster cooperation. We demonstrate that the limitations put on public participation processes do not yet allow for the emergence and reinforcement of capabilities. Most of the local strategies studied in fact correspond to an adjustment approach to adaptation. However, spurred by recent objectives to strongly reduce emissions, new ways of integrating citizens’ contributions into public policy have emerged.