“Governance of Transitions” Seminar

A Dialogue on Redirection: Perspectives from an Elected Official and a Philosopher

The Key Initiative on Public Policies for Transition (KIPPT) at I-SITE in Montpellier is pleased to invite you to the first session of the “Governance of Transitions” seminar for the 2026–2027 academic year.

In the face of climate change, conceptions of “transition” prove to be more or less transformative. “Redirection,” a concept developed by Alexandre Monnin in an essay titled *Politizing Renunciation* published in 2023, emphasizes renunciations and detachments—particularly with regard to what the author calls “inherited negative commons,” those material and organizational legacies on which our societies depend but which compromise their sustainability. Adaptation would thus involve accepting these renunciations—while also anticipating them—in order to maintain a democratic decision-making process and foster the emergence of new collective attachments. For elected officials, such “redirection” poses a real challenge. Yet this is precisely the choice made by Caen’s elected officials, who took the rare step of abandoning a 35-hectare urban development project at risk of coastal flooding. Emmanuel Renard will discuss this emblematic example by detailing the decision-making process that led to this abandonment and its main political, social, organizational, managerial, and financial consequences. His presentation will demonstrate that abandoning the project is neither a defeat nor a lack of ambition, but can, on the contrary, embody a renewed form of public responsibility in the face of climate challenges. The dialogue between the two speakers will provide context for the practical conditions of implementing this reorientation in public policy and open a discussion on the implications it holds for public policies and local communities.

Speakers

• Emmanuel Renard, president of Caen Normandie Métropole and Caen city council member;
• Alexandre Monnin, philosopher.

To help us organize the session, please confirm your attendance by filling out the registration form: