The Feschet family lives in a village in Provence in southern France. The family has been in the lavender farming business for three generations. However, due to the impacts of climate change, farming lavender is becoming increasingly difficult and is no longer fully viable. The Feschet family, by way of the People’s Climate Case that they initiated together with other families, is now urging the EU to increase its 2030 climate target in order to protect their farm, their family business and the future of their children.
Droughts have increased substantially in the region since the 1960s, and according to the temperature increase graphs, there has been a clear warming trend of about +0.5°C/decade since 1950. The changes in season have severely affected lavender farming. The high temperatures in January and February when the plants start to grow, followed by a frost period later in the year, are killing the plants. Lavender cultures that had lasted for 23 years can now be uprooted at the age of 4 with only 2.5 years of crop.
Grandfather Maurice explains what they are going through: “44% in 6 years: this is the concrete loss of lavender harvest we are faced with in Provence due to the impacts of climate change hitting us harder and harder. Particularly over the last 7 years, we have been facing repeated droughts which, in addition to loss of harvest, make the reconstitution of plantations quite uncertain.”
The Feschet family knows that Europe can and must do better to protect its citizens and future generations. Grandfather Maurice underlines: “In European politics, there is a real urgency to take a step back and reconsider the principles of democracy. The EU must now listen to its citizens who are impacted by climate change, and implement the necessary measures to protect them. Being protected from the worsening impacts of climate change is a fundamental right and increasing the EU’s climate target is a necessary measure.”
Please contact Notre Affaire à Tous to reach out to the family.
