Just a few kilometers from Nantes, Pornichet has reached an important milestone in its ecological transition and becomes the first town on the French Atlantic coast to receive the Silver Award from the Green Destinations program.
Green Destinations program is internationally recognized and validated by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, assessing over 75 criteria for this distinction. Criteria cover various areas such as public management, biodiversity protection, climate change adaptation, heritage enhancement, and quality of hospitality. The process involves a thorough analysis of documents followed by an on-site audit conducted by an independent evaluator. Achieving the “silver” level on the first application demonstrates a high level of performance.
Pornichet’s recognition is due to concrete actions implemented in recent years, including dune restoration to protect the coastline and an active tree planting policy to enhance green spaces. The town has also made strong choices such as removing beach showers to conserve water and deploying LED public lighting for energy efficiency.
This success is not solely attributed to the municipality but is the result of a collective effort involving the tourism office, local professionals, and residents. For over a decade, Pornichet has been developing a progressive environmental strategy with a clear goal of preserving its natural environment while remaining an attractive destination.
Currently, coastal destinations face a major challenge of accommodating more visitors while protecting fragile ecosystems. With erosion, climate change, and tourist pressure, maintaining this balance can be challenging. The model proposed by Green Destinations emphasizes continuous improvement: measure, adjust, progress.
