Water justice, scarcity and environmental flows. The case of Marseille

Abstract

In the context of the present global ecological crisis, water emerges as one key element to take care of for avoiding a planetary ecocide. The link between water scarcity, justice and environmental flows is explored, opening to a more-than-human perspective and recognising the connection between water biopolitics and urban design. The Mediterranean context is identified as a hotspot for investigating these intertwined themes, with the city of Marseille as a relevant case study. The territorial scale water system is described in relation to water justice, present conflicts and future perspectives. Finally, the features of the urban area are presented in relation to issues and opportunities linked to possible transformations towards a more circular and just water metabolism for the city and the surrounding territory.