Jean-Mathieu Thévenot, a farmer from the French Basque Country and representative of the Confédération Paysanne and La Via Campesina, highlights the profound effects of climate change on French agriculture. He emphasizes that 2026 represents a turning point where climate disruption has become an immediate challenge rather than a distant concern. This change is not only causing economic difficulties but is also threatening the cultural traditions tied to farming in the region.
Thévenot notes that while some farms, including his own, have been somewhat shielded due to early production cycles, many farmers across the area are facing significant hardship. The combined pressures of financial instability and the loss of the farming heritage due to environmental changes are creating a critical situation for the agricultural community. His account offers a personal perspective on how climate change is impacting those who depend on the land for their livelihoods.