The adaptation approach, initiated at the national level by the Ministry of the Environment in the late 1990s, complements mitigation actions. It addresses the consequences of climate change.
3rd National Climate Change Adaptation Plan
To progress in a coordinated manner on the issue of climate change adaptation, France has established a reference warming trajectory for climate change adaptation (TRACC). Defined based on the trend scenario, it serves as a reference for all adaptation actions in France.
The 3rd National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PNACC), published on March 10, 2025, is based on this reference warming trajectory for climate change adaptation.
The PNACC outlines a series of concrete actions to adapt our territory, both mainland and overseas, to the visible and expected impacts of climate change: heatwaves, floods, droughts, shrink-swell of clays, coastal erosion, forest fires, biodiversity loss, etc. Its goals are to protect the population and build the resilience of French society. It aims to adapt our lifestyles, economy, infrastructures, and political decisions by integrating future climate considerations into all ecological planning.
This plan was developed in collaboration with all stakeholders: local authorities, the state and operators, trade unions, economic sectors, and associations. Its measures were discussed within four working groups—territories, biodiversity, economy, technical standards—that met from July to December 2023. A voluntary public consultation was then organized from October 25 to December 27, 2024, based on the draft developed by the working groups. This allowed for enriching the document with contributions from citizens and public and private actors before its final adoption. The draft plan was also submitted for review by the National Council for Ecological Transition on January 28, 2025.
