Salvador Juan, Local actors and the challenge of climate change. The case of the Normandy coast Based on interviews conducted among elected officials and local actors, this study examines the conflict between the proponents of "coastal protection" and those in favour of a "strategic retreat" from the coast. While the former emphasize immediate requirements (in particular economic requirements) by contrast with the natural elements, the latter have generally taken a more global long-term view of the issue, based on an anthropomorphic conception of nature. The advocates of coastal protection generally refuse to consider major trends and to anticipate or predict the future, while emphasizing the knowledge of local people. By contrast, their opponents emphasize the need to adapt and to stand back from local issues and challenges. After examining this conflict, the paper considers the sociopolitical issues raised by the adaptation to climate change.
