[T]he village of Miquelon sits only 2 meters above sea level on the archipelago of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Situated off the Canadian coast to the south of Newfoundland, it is an “overseas collectivity” of France, and the country’s last foothold in North America…’

But it was not until 2022 that the local government started thinking in earnest about relocating after the village narrowly missed being hit by Hurricane Fiona, one of the most expensive weather events ever in Canada. The move, when it is complete, will give Miquelon the unenviable title of the first French village to relocate because of the climate emergency. ..For now, relocation is voluntary, and nearly 50 people have signed up to move…At the same time, workers started to extend Miquelon’s water and electricity supplies to the new site. The goal is to keep the two sites connected as people move across the bridge between them.

Even though the signs of the climate crisis are obvious on the island – the ocean is slowly eating away at the isthmus that connects the parts of the island – many believe they have more time…

Excerpt from Sara Hashemi, How do you move a village? Residents of France’s last outpost in North America try to outrun the sea, Guardian, Oct. 28, 2025