3156 - Green Paris

Course Description

During the COVID-19 lockdown, public parks and gardens were closed in Paris, which triggered a polemic about the social role of green spaces at the heart of the French capital. In this course, we will examine how green spaces have been developed in the City of Light in relation to socio-economic concerns, starting in the nineteenth century with Napoleon III's urbanistic vision. Until then, few urban dwellers had access to green spaces and the contrast between countryside and city was stark. We will review this evolution by focusing on several key areas in the city and the ways in which these spaces have been inscribed in an ethos about the relationship between people and nature.

Today, green spaces in Paris have been enrolled in the ecological transition and the city's (and national) politics of sustainability. This course will examine current efforts being made to re-plan Paris as a "bioclimatic" space in the face of climate change and the increased frequency of heatwaves there. As close to ten percent of the city is currently being rebuilt, multifaceted concepts such as urban biodiversity, urban forests, or urban agriculture, among others, have emerged, for example in attempts to combat the heat island effect. From public parks to pocket gardens, we will visit the panoply of different green infrastructures in Paris and their cultural, urbanistic, and ecological meaning and function in the transformation of the city into a modern twenty-first century metropolis that expects record numbers of visitors in 2023 and for the 2024 Olympic Games. Examining Paris through its green spaces invites us to see "la vie en vert" and reveals how culture and ecology intermingle. Join us for a fascinating and engaging session!

Course Outline

Hélène Ducros is a double graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill (J.D., Ph.D.) where she studied law and human geography. She is the editor of EuropeNow Journal (Council for European Studies, Columbia University) and currently teaches geography at Xavier University of Louisiana. Her latest book is Justice in Climate Action Planning (Springer Nature, 2022).

Notes

This course takes place in-person at the Friday Conference Center and consists of one session, Wednesday, April 5, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. The fee is $25.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation must be received in writing at least one week before the start of class. You will be issued a refund, less a $10 administrative fee. Contact Student Services at stuserv@unc.edu.

Alternatively, participant substitutions are welcome. If you cannot attend, please contact Student Services with the name of the individual who will take your place.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, or need further information or assistance, please contact Laura Respess at lrespess@email.unc.edu.