Transition socio-écologique et gouvernance de la ville

This course explores the role(s) of law in urban governance in the era of socio-ecological transitions. It is based on the idea that cities play a central role in societal socio-ecological transitions, given that they have an undeniable ecological impact and are the site of numerous social inequalities. This course focuses on Belgian law; however, examples from comparative law are occasionally included to enrich the course. We analyze three legal dimensions related to cities’ socio-ecological transitions.

• A first institutional dimension examines cities’ legal capacity to implement socio-ecological transition policies;
• A second area analyzes various public policies that directly impact urban socio-ecological transitions (reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change, nature conservation and restoration in urban settings, access to decent and affordable housing, etc.) and identifies their legal levers and instruments, as well as the obstacles and conflicts that may arise;
• The third and final area focuses on the private and public actors involved in urban governance, with particular attention to citizen and civil society groups.

This course begins with the analysis of practical case studies drawn from current events. This year, we are using as our starting point the October 29, 2025, ruling by the Brussels Court of First Instance, which imposes a moratorium on the Brussels-Capital Region regarding undeveloped green spaces of 0.5 hectares. This ruling, and the Brussels context in which it occurred, clearly illustrate the role of law in cities’ socio-ecological transitions—and specifically, in the tensions that exist between access to decent and affordable housing, on the one hand, and the conservation of urban nature and the city’s adaptation to climate change, on the other. Other case studies or examples drawn from current events are occasionally incorporated into the course to enrich the material.

The objective of this course is to demonstrate the value and relevance, in the era of socio-ecological transitions, of studying the city as a specific legal subject and urban law as an emerging branch of law. By the end of this course, students should be able to identify, describe, and analyze legal issues related to the socio-ecological transitions of cities.

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

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The course is taught through lectures, which place a strong emphasis on interaction with students. A PowerPoint-style presentation supports the lecture and is posted online. Active learning methods (such as flipped classrooms based on readings or Wooclap) are used.
One session topic is determined collectively by the students.
Presentations by external speakers (whether or not from academia) are planned.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

The course does not follow a specific syllabus or textbook, and there are no required purchases.
Readings related to the flipped classroom, as well as those recommended for further study, are gradually being posted on the virtual university’s website.

Course notes

• Université virtuelle

Additional information

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Contacts

Aurélien Hucq
Aurelien.Hucq@ulb.be
 

Campus

Solbosch

Method(s) of evaluation

• Personal work
• Group work

Personal work

Group work

Individual or small-group written assignment, in French or English

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

The grade corresponds to the one earned on the written assignment

Language(s) of evaluation

• english
• french