Seine-Nord Europe Canal: An environmental boon or bane?

Work has commenced on the French Seine-Nord Europe Canal (SNEC), a significant new European trade route. The investment of €5.1 billion (close to £4.3 billion) is set to enhance trade exchange between France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. It also aligns with the European Union's climate goals, as water transport emits five times less CO2 than land transport per tonne of goods transported.

Upon completion in 2030, the massive 66-mile infrastructure project aims to increase the capacity for the region's cheaper, faster, and less polluting river trade. The 59-yard-wide SNEC will replace the Canal du Nord, which has less capacity and does not allow the navigation of the largest vessels. The SNEC will be funded by the French government, local authorities that will economically benefit from the canal's construction, and the European Union.

Analysts have calculated that the new waterway could remove up to a million lorries from French roads annually. Nicolas Ledoux, General Manager of Arcadis France, the company leading the project, said, "The Seine-Nord Europe Canal will not only enable a modal shift from the roadway to the river but will also create added economic, logistical, agricultural, and climatic value for the territories it crosses through."

The project is to be carried out with respect for the natural environment. Ecological corridors will be built to allow the free movement of all animal species. Ecological plantations will be established around the canal. Ledoux summarised: "We are very proud to help promote river transport, a high-performing, environmentally friendly, and economical mode of transport that responds to the challenge of energy transition."

The project also has staunch opponents. Among the protesters are students from the polytechnic in Compiègne, where the construction work on the massive project began. They believe that destroying natural habitats through which the SNEC will run is not worth the announced benefits. They are convinced that rail transport, which is even less emissive than river transport but more expensive, will be redirected to the canal waters instead of road transport. The protesters also fear the impact of disrupting natural waterways and accumulating water in the extensive canal, which could worsen the droughts of almost all European countries, including France.