MEGA-BASINS - A LOOK BACK AT A HARD-WON VICTORY 💪

A great win for the environment! 🥳

On Tuesday, October 3rd, the Poitiers court cancelled the construction of 15 mega-basins.

These mega-basins represented a total volume of 3 million cubic meters of water and were slated for construction in Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres, and Vienne.

The court ruled that these projects were "not associated with real water-saving measures," were "oversized," and were ill-suited to the effects of climate change.

The efforts of "water war" activists, scientific studies, and the court's decision have helped to:

✅ Protect water as a common good

✅ Prevent water waste

✅ Preserve biodiversity

✅ Avoid inequalities in water access

Next up, the Bordeaux Court will rule on the fate of 16 mega-basins in Deux-Sèvres. In May 2022, the Bordeaux Administrative Court of Appeal had already cancelled the creation of 5 mega-basins, ruling that the impact study conducted was flawed.

There is a good chance these mega-basin projects will be cancelled as well 💪

‍

THE A69: A TEXTBOOK CASE OF WHAT NOT TO DO ❌

A69: Why is this project bad for the environment?

Conceived 30 years ago, the highway project connecting Castres to Toulouse was once seen as a symbol of progress and economic development.

But today, the scientific consensus is clear: we must stop encouraging individual car use by building new roads.

The arguments put forward by the project's backers simply don't hold up:

“The A69 will help open up the Castres-Mazamet area”

Connecting a town to its regional capital via a new road actually boosts the capital's appeal and increases traffic (The Conversation). This is known as “induced demand”: drivers take advantage of the new route to travel further and more often, and to live or work further away.

To provide sustainable access, investing in public transport solutions is a much better way to develop low-carbon mobility.

“The A69 will save time (between 15 and 35 minutes)”

Upgrading the existing RN126 to a dual carriageway or improving the rail line would save time with far less environmental impact. (The Conversation)

“The A69 will ensure safer journeys for users”

Road safety improvements could easily reduce the hazards on the current RN126.

“The A69 is an environmentally friendly project”

This project will result in:

• The destruction of centuries-old trees: these trees are irreplaceable carbon sinks. Planting new ones won't compensate for this loss for decades.
• 400 hectares of nature destroyed, including 316 hectares of farmland and 13 hectares of woodland.
• Soil sealing, which directly contradicts the national goal of zero net land take.

Ultimately, this project doesn't seem to reflect what the local people want: 61% of residents in the affected departments are in favor of abandoning the work. (Ifop poll, 10/19/23)

‍

‍