Région Sud
Government Structure and Role
Population: 5 million (2019)
GDP: €152 billion / US$165 billion
Geographic area (sq miles/kilometers):
31,400 km² / 12,123 sq mi
Major economic sectors: Tourism, Agriculture, Industrials, Commerce and Services
Government size – number of employees: 6,000
Governments & Jurisdictions: TBC
Governance on Climate Change
Key laws and strategies
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region will vote on the Climate Plan “Gardons une COP d'avance” in 2024. Climate and energy issues are organized into six areas (air, sea, land, energy, waste, your daily life), comprising 141 actions. Many of these actions are based on the involvement of local authorities in the ecological and energy transition. In addition, the Schéma Régional D'aménagement, de Développement Durable et D'égalité des Territoires (regional plan for land use, sustainable development and territorial equality) defines strong environmental guidelines for the region.
Under the experimental protocol between the French government and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region signed on November 14, 2022, the Region aims to become a pilot region for the deployment of ecological planning in France. Through a joint initiative, the aim is to provide concrete responses to the ecological emergency, with ambitious objectives broken down by sector and territory. More recently, the Region has adopted a green budget for the 2023 financial year, guaranteeing that its actions are entirely dedicated to the fight against global warming.
Internal governance structure
Climate change is a cross-cutting issue for many of the Region's departments spanning the Department of Water and Natural Risks, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy Transition, Department of European Cooperation and others.
Recent and Projected Impacts: MCAP Priority Climate Risks
Extreme Heat: The Region has experienced a rise in heatwaves, with projections indicating an increase of extreme heat days. These heat waves have strongly impacted the territory.
Drought: The successive droughts have led to an environmental degradation, and a lack of drinking water supply. Some villages were forced to buy water bottles to deliver water to their inhabitants. This was a shock for several mayors who decided to stop new building permits because of the lack of available water for current residents.
Wildfires: Wildfires represent another important risk in the region. Every year, large wildfires cause a lot of destruction, including biodiversity loss.