Climate change, Impacts and Adaptation in Reunion Island[Changement climatique, Impacts et Adaptation à La Réunion]

Global climate change is a scientific reality, backed by evidence, and its anthropogenic origin, via greenhouse gases emissions linked to human activities, is consensual. One of the major consequences of global climate change is the intensification of extreme climatic events, which dramatically impact natural hazards, biodiversity, food and water security, human health, economy and societies. Although mitigation measures have been implemented throughout the world, the impacts of global climate change can already be observed. It is thus necessary to adapt, by doing differently, right now. Amongst French oversea territories, Reunion Island, located in the South Western Indian Ocean, is particularly vulnerable to the imapcts of global climate change, such as natural hazards (cyclones). In this context, local initiatives based of transdisciplinarity, partnership and collaboration aim to apprehend the challenges of global climate change on the territory by mobilizing diverse stakeholders. Facing an increasingly unstable climate, disseminating knowledge on global climate change, its impacts and possible adaptation solutions is critical to anticipate and implement strategies to reduce present and future climate risk at the island and regional scales. The PIROI Center, or the Indian Ocean Regional Intervention Platform, part of the French Red Cross, organized a training session on climate change adaptation during which the following presentations were delivered : (1) Projections and climate services in Reunion Island. (2) Knowledge and solutions for the adaptation to global climate change in French oversea territoires in the Indian Ocean. (3) Hydroclimatic risks in Reunion Island (RISC-RA / CLIMAAX). (4) Levers and barriers to adaptation within public political instutitions in Reunion Island. (4) Regional Panel on Climate Change of Reunion Island.