French Lawmaker & Biologist Warn Students: Science is key to Facing Environmental Crisis
Gujan-Mestras, France – A stark warning about the future of france’s coastline and the critical importance of scientific literacy was delivered to students at the Lycée de la Mer in Gujan-Mestras this Monday. The occasion was the launch of “when you only have the sea…”, a new book coordinated by Renaissance deputy Sophie panonacle, with all copyright proceeds going to support student research projects focused on shellfishing and water quality.
Panonacle, who has championed the “sustainable blue economy” since her election in 2017, painted a sobering picture of the challenges ahead. “We are all affected by the rise of waters,” she stated, citing the imminent loss of beaches on the ocean side of Teste as a tangible example. She expressed concern over the growing dismissal of scientific consensus, notably in the United States, emphasizing that “we have to base ourselves on science to build public policies. We must continue to highlight the scientists.”
Joining Panonacle was biologist Gilles Bœuf, former director of the Arcachon Marine Station and professor at the Collège de France.Bœuf delivered a particularly forceful message to the students, stating bluntly: “You need science. Science is not an opinion! Put that in your skull for life! And politicians do not know anything about it. Hence the interest thay have to listen to scientists…”
Bœuf’s address wasn’t simply a call for respect for scientific expertise, but a passionate plea to appreciate the wonders of biodiversity and the consequences of its loss. “The living is incredibly marvelous. We are alive and this is what the National Assembly has forgotten,” he declared. He argued that ecological damage isn’t simply an abstract threat, but a direct assault on human well-being, powerfully stating, “Ecology is not punitive. To die at 30 years of cancer caused by pesticides, that’s, that’s punitive.”
Bœuf attributed the ongoing biodiversity crisis to “arrogance,greed,[and] unpredictability,” warning that valuable species like civet eels and European sturgeon are facing extinction due to economic pressures.
The book launch served as a platform to underscore the urgency of addressing environmental challenges and the vital role of scientific understanding in shaping effective policy.The funds raised will directly support the Lycée de la Mer’s students in their crucial research, ensuring the next generation is equipped to tackle the issues facing our oceans and coastlines.
Keywords: France, Surroundings, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Science, Policy, Arcachon Basin, Lycée de la Mer, Sophie Panonacle, gilles Bœuf, Blue Economy, Sustainability, Water Quality, Shellfishing, conservation.
