Coastline Loss And Insurance Management - CLAIM

Funding :  PEPR-IRIMA (France 2030) 
Duration : 48 months (April 2026-March 2030)

Coordination: Caroline Rufin-Soler (MCF en géographie, Laboratoire LETG UMR 6554 CNRS, Nantes Université)
Scientifique direction: Elisabeth LAMBERT & Jean-François STRUILLOU (DR CNRS, DCS)

Abstract:  

Coastal areas, densely populated and vulnerable, face heightened risks from sea-level rise, erosion, and flooding. Despite growing threats (28 to 188 cm sea-level rise projected by 2100), the attractiveness of coastal living persists, partly due to trust in protection and compensation mechanisms. Yet, property values often inadequately reflect these risks, and the current insurance framework may soon prove unsustainable amid escalating climate threats. Recent legal developments, notably the European Court of Human Rights' acknowledgment (April 2024) of a right to protection against severe climate impacts on primary residences, further complicate the situation.

This interdisciplinary research project addresses the inadequacies and economic viability of current protective measures against coastal hazards. Its objectives include identifying socially and legally acceptable solutions, examining tensions between local, national, and European perspectives, and exploring public-private partnerships to ensure economic resilience and reduce dependency on national solidarity. It seeks to prevent insurers from withdrawing from high-risk coastal areas and aims to inform French policy by analyzing international best practices.

Key research questions include:

- Criteria ensuring societal acceptance and economic viability of public-private solutions, considering justice, perceptions, and inequalities.
- Private insurance's role in complementing public obligations to protect residents.
- Optimal insurance products and public-private partnerships.
- Influence of risk information, post-disaster compensation, and real estate market dynamics on residents' behaviors and perceptions.