Is Paris Greenwashing its History?

09/12/22 • 5 min

Paris is in the midst of a massive transformation to become one of the greenest cities in Europe. The city sees this greening plan as part of a historic continuum, but critics say this is greenwashing. The Paris greening plan is ambitious and admirable--but history and language matter. Let's not admire a tree and call it a forest.

This podcast was created by Roger Mummert for www.theparisproject.net.

This podcast was created by Roger Mummert for www.theparisproject.net.

Previous Episode

De-Greening the Champ-de-Mars

The Champ-de-Mars by the Eiffel Tower, which was created for military drills, is today a battleground for city planners vs. tree advocates. In a city that, for centuries, was built with boulevards and vistas that project la gloire de France for visitors, Parisians ask: Is our city to be looked at--or lived in?

This podcast was created by Roger Mummert for www.theparisproject.net.

Next Episode

Walking a Lobster: Birth of La Bohème

bohemianism

Living a life of l’art pour l’art, flaunting conventions, embracing poverty and rejecting bourgeois values and comforts.
Part 1
Walking a Lobster: Birth of la Bohème

In the 1830s, the poet Gerard de Nerval attached a blue silk leash to his pet lobster Thibault and walked him through the gardens of the Palais Royal. It is difficult today to appreciate the significance of this gesture. At the time, de Nerval, a poet’s poet among the young Parisian literati, was (with the participation of Thibault the lobster) making a shocking artistic and social statement.
De Nerval was a bohemian.

This podcast was created by Roger Mummert for www.theparisproject.net.

Paris: "A City of Ideas" - Is Paris Greenwashing its History?

Transcript

Paris Has Always Been Green (Oui? ou Non? )

Is today’s greening of Paris part of a continuum—or is history being greenwashed?

Paris is going verte. The city is in the midst of implementing a comprehensive greening plan. It calls for green roofs and gardens, more bicycles and recycling, fewer cars, reduced carbon emissions, repurposed waste products, more breathable air and cleaner, more accessible waterways.

Trees are a critica