As part of the STORISK project that IDDRI is co-leading, a field mission was organised from 20 to 30 May in Rangiroa atoll in French Polynesia.
It aimed to assess the relevance of an internal relocation strategy within the atoll to address the impacts of climate change. Recent studies on the evolution of the surface of the islands over the last 6 to 7 decades show that only a minority of the atoll islands have experienced a contraction of their surface, thus calling into question the widespread idea of a necessary definitive migration of atoll populations to other territories, from high islands to large continents. The objective of this mission was therefore to raise the question of the room for manoeuvre in terms of "internal" relocation, both by moving the buildings and infrastructures currently located too close to the sea, and by adapting new islands, less sensitive to the possible consequences of sea level rise in particular.
This mission brought together various teams to explore the multiple dimensions of such a subject, in particular the questions of recent changes in the surface of the Rangiroa islands, their geomorphological and topographical characteristics (altitude surveys), the presence of indigenous vegetation (more resistant to extreme events), but also legal issues (particularly with regard to land) and the social acceptability of such a perspective. Various scientific publications are now planned on the implementation of an appropriate adaptation strategy.
The results will then be discussed with the local authorities (notably at the level of the French Polynesia Territory) and the populations concerned to identify the necessary conditions for the implementation of such a strategy. This will be one of the first in-depth international studies of the "internal relocation" of atoll populations.
