On 2 December 2024, 74 organisations from 36 countries, including members of the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands, BirdLife partners, WWF, and other conservation groups, launched a coordinated Red Alert campaign to raise the alarm over the growing number of infrastructure projects threatening the Camargue—a key Mediterranean wetland.

Joint letters were sent to the French Minister for Ecological Transition, the European Commission, and the Bern Convention Secretariat, highlighting the ecological and socio-economic risks posed by the region’s transformation. These concerns sparked significant attention, generating over 25 media articles, including coverage in Le Monde, and reached 10,500 impressions and 8,900 engagements on LinkedIn.

The case also reached the international policy stage:

• At the Ramsar Standing Committee (SC64) in January 2025, Wetlands International raised the issue, prompting the French delegation to prepare a report.
• A formal complaint under Article 3.2 of the Ramsar Convention was submitted on 11 March 2025.
• Responses were received from:
  • The Bern Convention Secretariat, encouraging official case submission;
  • The European Commission (DG ENV and DG ENER), recalling Natura 2000 obligations but also referencing the revised Renewable Energy Directive, which frames specific energy infrastructure as being of “overriding public interest”—potentially weakening biodiversity safeguards;
  • The European Ramsar Secretariat confirmed it is following up with French authorities.

No response from the government was received in December 2024 due to political instability in France. The letter was resent on 15 April 2025 to both the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Ministry for Energy.

What’s next?

The proposed Extra High Voltage (EHV) aerial line, now included in a broader national public debate on low-carbon industrial transition, risks being overshadowed by the wider agenda. Although a cumulative environmental impact assessment has been commissioned, its release is expected only after the public debate concludes and is not legally binding.

Meanwhile, the local collective has secured legal counsel following a successful fundraising effort. Legal actions are under consideration at national, EU, and international levels. The Camargue Red Alert Task Force continues to monitor developments closely and stands ready to mobilise again in the second half of 2025.

The Superhighway project, which also threatens the region, remains on hold—but vigilance remains high.

We sincerely thank our members and partners for actively sharing the alert and helping amplify this critical issue across networks and platforms. Your support continues to be vital in defending the Camargue and other threatened wetlands.

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