When local science shapes national policy_National emergency broadcasting network

Two recommendations of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction have been put into practice with the adoption of a new law in France: the necessity of including science in the policy-making process, and the importance of the local level insights and advice.

Adopted by the French parliament, an amendment was made to a project law about roles and responsibilities of local authorities, aiming to reduce the risk of disaster and mitigate the impact of wild fires. The amendment builds on previous efforts to reduce disaster risk, offering a good case study for a large range of countries.

The amendment – which is part of a local level public action and proximity engagement law aiming to modify the national forestry code – requires land owners to take appropriate measures to reduce wildfire risk, as well as introduces the possibility for mayors to take preventive action in private properties when needed. It also build new capacities for local authorities to identify wildfire prone areas. Facing desertification of rural areas, an increase of unmaintained forests, and exacerbated risks as a result of climate change, the amendment creates conditions for improving the necessary shift from response to prevention in the case of wildfire risk.

The amendment was initially introduced by local level government representatives and Mayors from Corsica, a region where wildfires are a major threat for decades. It builds on local knowledge and experience, and extrapolates from these for solutions to national level. This acknowledges the role of bottom-up approaches, the importance of addressing local risks, but also the need to share knowledge about the threat that climate change is already extending to regions which are unprepared for it. In this sense, the amendment adopted in France contributes to building coherence between climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

A second unique factor involved in the passing of this amendment is that is has been triggered and advocated for by a group of scientists specialized in fire risk modeling and disaster risk management. Building on models from fire loss databases, socioeconomic behaviors and evolution of biodiversity, scientists focused on risk information to local authorities, development of prevention measures and awareness of the increasing risk of wildfire due to the correlation of climate change and individual habits.