Since 2006, France has progressively strengthened its approach to climate change adaptation. In March 2025, it reached a decisive milestone with the adoption of a national adaptation plan based, for the first time, on a reference warming trajectory, providing a clear framework for action in response to climate change.

This session will present the results of a major national study analyzing the impact of climate change on the vulnerability of France’s state-owned road network, which comprises more than 21,000 km of infrastructure. Moving beyond case studies and lessons learned from the past, this work offers a comprehensive and forward-looking assessment of the impacts of multiple climate hazards on road infrastructure under the different warming scenarios of the reference trajectory, including extreme conditions.

By combining a systemic vulnerability analysis with innovative and detailed economic assessments, the study highlights not only where and how road networks are exposed, but also the cost of inaction, both in terms of infrastructure degradation and loss of connectivity for people, goods, and services. The keynote address will explore how these insights can inform investment and maintenance policies, guide strategic choices between preventive and corrective interventions, define needs in skills development and methodological innovation, support the evolution of professional standards, and help transport authorities translate climate scenarios into concrete adaptation strategies.