The Toulouse-Castres motorway “contrary to commitments on climate change”, says the CNPN
A banner during the FestiVad festival against the construction of the Toulouse-Castres motorway, at the end of September 2021 in the Tarn. – © Alain Pitton/Reporter
A banner during the FestiVad festival against the construction of the Toulouse-Castres motorway, at the end of September 2021 in the Tarn. – © Alain Pitton/Reporter
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Transportation
The construction of the Toulouse-Castres motorway does not show up “ of major public interest ». This is the conclusion of the National Council for the Protection of Nature (CNPN). The expert body issued on September 12, 2022 an unfavorable opinion concerning this motorway project which is highly contested by environmentalists.
“ This file is in contradiction with the national commitments in terms of the fight against climate changeobjective of zero net land take and zero net loss of biodiversity, as well as in terms of purchasing power »Write the CNPN. This highway, he explains, should encourage the use of private cars, “ which is contrary to the objective of carbon neutrality by 2050 ». It would also destroy several hundred hectares of fertile land and natural areas, which constitute it. “ valuable life insurance to mitigate the increasingly regular weather hazards in a context of climate change “.
For the time being, this opinion does not call into question this motorway project, whose commissioning is scheduled for 2023. It could, however, prevent the issuance of the mandatory environmental authorization to start the work, rejoiced on Twitter the collective of opponents The way is free. The managing director of Atosca, the dealer for the future A69, is nevertheless confident: “ It is indeed quite rare to obtain a favorable opinion for a project of this nature, the role of the CNPN being to identify all the possible margins of progress in favor of biodiversity »he declared to our colleagues from The Dispatch.