Apprendre la mer à nos enfants. Un sujet transversal : « L’érosion de nos côtes en contexte de changement climatique et d’élévation du niveau marin dans une approche intégrée du genre »

In a « participatory science » framework, this is a project to monitor the state of our islands’ beaches and their evolution under the effect of erosion. Supported by scientists, this scheme calls upon the island youth, the world of education and volunteer associations, focusing on a phenomenon directly linked to climate change which puts the South Pacific islands on the front line, particularly threatening women’s way of life, health and safety. The paper presents the starting point for the project which is the subject of an agreement which governs the Caledonian “Parcours Éducatif Mer” programme bringing together the Vice-Rectorat, the NC Maritime Cluster and the Cluster Comité Égalité à l’Éducation à l’École (CC3E). It could possibly be extended to other interested structures such as – the international PACPATH project, whose primary subject is the same, – Kiwanis International Division 6 (NC and W&F) and its District 6 (NZ & Pacific Islands), which propose to be associated, – any other voluntary structures... The proposed approaches and methodologies are explained with the aim of raising awareness and understanding of this island phenomenon (erosion and retreat of the coastline due to the effect of rising sea levels, extreme weather and sea events, etc. It also implies knowing how to measure and monitor the situation, understanding the associated risks and contributing to the creation of standardised, local, territorial and regional knowledge bases which are lacking, which are sustainable and can serve as a reference. The project aims at implicating young and the not-so-young people. The plan described below is intended to be simple presenting the methods and tools that will be needed, the possible locations and the related issues and all persons concerned.