From the Polar Ice Caps to the Mediterranean: Sea Level Rise—Between Uncertainty and Urgency!
This event has already taken place!
Following an introduction by Michaël Delafosse, mayor of Montpellier, Gaël Durand, scientific delegate for polar affairs at CNRS-INSU, will provide an overview of the state of the polar ice caps and glaciers, the main contributors to rising sea levels.
Following his presentation, Gaël Durand will take part in a roundtable discussion moderated by Mathieu Vidard, featuring Frédéric Bouchette, a professor at the University of Montpellier and a specialist in coastal dynamics, two representatives from the Occitanie Region and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, and Nicolas Clarin, a project manager specializing in coastal development and the study of coastal hydro-morphodynamic processes at CréOcean.
The changes in the polar ice caps—which have been occurring more rapidly than expected—have surprised the scientific community and led to a thorough reevaluation of certain fundamental principles of glaciology, particularly the instability mechanisms specific to the ice caps.
However, uncertainty should not be confused with ignorance, nor should it serve as an excuse for inaction: even if our current knowledge remains incomplete, it is sufficient to warn us of major risks. It calls for bold and urgent decisions, both in terms of adaptation and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Presented as part of the 29th edition of the Earth Sciences Meetings. Organized by the Geological Society of France, the Montpellier Geosciences Laboratory, and the BioGée Federation. This event is part of a shared commitment to fostering dialogue between science and society, with the aim of better understanding the climate challenges ahead and taking concrete action at the local level.
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