International Symposium “Coastal ecosystems vulnerability to global change and extreme events” Biarritz, France, 21 October 2011 Round Table Professor Louis Legendre Chair of the Scientific Committee Pierre & Marie Curie University Villefranche Oceanography Laboratory, France

Adaptation

Adaptation: IPCC The state of the Earth’s changing climate is continuously assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC – GIEC in French) Latest IPCC report -published in volumes 33

Adaptation: IPCC IPCC report: 4 volumes 44 Synthesis Report Mitigation of Climate Change Physical Science Basis Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability Natural scientists often focus on Physical Science Basis Social scientists and decision makers are much more concerned by the next two volumes

Adaptation and mitigation Some effects of climate change have become unavoidable -example: sea-level rise of up to 1 m by purpose of adaptation is to prepare human societies (local, national and regional) to manage the inevitable Not only is the climate is changing rapidly, but if nothing were done, climate would change more and more rapidly -example: destabilisation of Antarctic ice caps, with sea-level rise of tens of metres - purpose of climate change mitigation is to prevent the occurrence of the unmanageable Many societies have started to prepare their adaptation to various aspects the changing environment -adaptation must be grounded in scientific knowledge and expertise (social and natural sciences) -adaptation will proceed with or without scientists 5i5

Research versus expertise

Research versus expertise: historical In many aspects of social life, research and expertise developed independently until relatively recently -medicine  practical activity of healing since the origin of humankind  biology and chemistry have emerged has sciences only a few centuries ago  two types of activity merged at the end of the 19 th century -engineering  building artificial structures and mechanical devices for millennia  physics has emerged as a science in the 18 th century  two types of activity started to merge in the 19 th century Merging of research and expertise is a major characteristic of modern societies 7i7

Research versus expertise: environmental management Managing the environment -traditional knowledge has often been successful at managing small-scale systems that experienced moderate human pressure and were changing relatively slowly -societies must now manage large-scale systems that are under tremendous human pressure and are changing rapidly 8i8 Large-scale environmental management -not a practical activity until recently: no tradition of expertise -relies heavily on scientific knowledge and theories -however, no clear approach to translate scientific knowledge and theories into practical management rules and tools -problem must be recognised and become very rapidly a focus of active research

Sharing knowledge and know-how

Researchers, decision-makers from the government and business sectors, and Non-Governmental Organisations must share knowledge and know how This key activity is not usual for researchers -who are often penalised in their careers if they devote some of their research time to sharing knowledge -who often do not know how to proceed even in interested -who generally cannot find human or financial resources to pursue knowledge sharing (except in European projects) Suggested actions (in France) -research organisations and universities: clearly identify the knowledge-sharing activity as a highly positive factor for promotions and other rewards -funding agencies: have dedicated programmes to support researchers who wish to do knowledge sharing 10