Less plastic, more transport... the Rouen Armada 2023 finally goes green

For ten days, Rouen (Seine-Maritime) will live to the rhythm of the Armada, this gathering of tall ships that has attracted millions of visitors since 1989 at each edition. More than forty ships are expected on nearly 7 km of quays along the Seine.

Completely free, the event is not without questions about its environmental impact. President since 2020 of the association organizing the event, Jean-Paul Rivière is aware of this. "How can we reduce our impact on the planet while continuing to grow? asks the entrepreneur passionate about sailing. I integrated it from the beginning because, basically, for us, it is almost self-defense if we want to continue to exist. But the mountain is high... »

And the pressure is there. Coming both from society but also, more concretely, from politicians. "We cannot have declared a climate emergency on our territory and look the other way when it comes to the Armada," says Charlotte Goujon, the vice-president in charge of the ecological transition within the Rouen Normandy Metropolis.

"You have to show that it's easier to come without your car"

First concrete change, the giants of the seas who will remain docked for ten days will be able to almost all connect to the electricity grid, and avoid using generators or their engines. "We go from 10% of ships connected in 2019 to 90% for this edition. The port has made a big effort on this and we have added an envelope of 100,000 euros, "says Jean-Paul Rivière.

On the plastic side, the sale of water bottles will be prohibited on the site. And returnable Arma'Cups will be available and associated with the deployment of water fountains.

Another big issue is the issue of travel. There, according to the boss of the Armada, "it took a little insistence to have 5,000 parking spaces for bicycles. And discuss with the SNCF to have more trains whereas in 2019, because of work, there had been less. " The Metropolis insists on the effort made in terms of public transport with a reinforced offer and the creation of temporary park-and-ride facilities, at a total cost of 1.7 million euros. "We have to show that it's easier to come without a car, even if habits are still difficult to change," says Charlotte Goujon.

Read alsoThe recipe book of the sailboats of the Armada de Rouen 2023: "Around the world while staying at the dock"

Still, for environmentalists, these efforts do not really change the situation. "In the end, it will only have an impact at the margin compared to the flows generated," says Stéphane Martot, the regional secretary EELV, who nevertheless ensures support for the organization of the Armada, "which remains a symbol for the rapprochement of people and cultures".

He would probably have liked to see more environmental specialists in organizational meetings. "We would have been in the clash of cultures," smiles the elected Rouen, who is waiting to see what will be the use that will be made of the carbon footprint ordered by the organizers, a first that seems essential to Jean-Paul Rivière. "To improve, we have to start by measuring our carbon footprint. And see how far we still have to go. »

Armada of Rouen, from 8 to 18 June. Full program on www.armada.org.