Redevelopment of Mayotte: Shared Initiatives through the AESOP Congress concerning Transition and Accommodation
In the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, which ravaged Mayotte in December 2024, the reconstruction process presents an opportunity to rethink models of local development. One significant contribution to this effort is the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Congress 2024, held at Sciences Po in July.
The AESOP Congress, organised by CEE and Sciences Po Urban School, attracted over 1,200 attendees, making it the largest scientific event ever held at Sciences Po. The event included a dedicated session on disaster recovery and resilient urban planning, focusing on strategies for post-cyclone reconstruction in Mayotte.
Academics, planners, local stakeholders, and international experts shared their knowledge, fostering sustainable and climate-resilient housing models tailored to Mayotte's unique socio-cultural and environmental context. Research presentations on cyclone-resistant architecture, planning frameworks emphasising ecological sustainability, and policy recommendations for Mayotte's government integrating ecological transition and resilience were among the key contributions.
The Congress also facilitated networking, connecting Mayotte's local authorities with European planners and institutions for ongoing support and knowledge exchange.
Meanwhile, the European ReHousIn project offers a valuable comparative analysis, examining ecological transition in housing across major European cities. Led by Marco Cremaschi at the CEE, the project compares Paris, Milan, and London, focusing on how urban housing can align with sustainability goals, reduce carbon footprints, and enhance livability.
The key dimensions analysed include policy frameworks, technological innovations, social and economic context, and implementation challenges and opportunities. In Paris, there is a strong emphasis on energy-efficient retrofitting of existing housing stock, with policies promoting green roofs, solar panels, and tightened building codes.
Milan focuses on integrating smart technology (IoT for energy management) in housing, implementing district heating systems, and promoting passive house standards. London, on the other hand, has progressive standards in new housing developments targeting net-zero carbon emissions, with extensive use of modular and prefabricated construction techniques to reduce waste.
The comparative insights reveal distinct but complementary approaches to ecological transition in housing, highlighting innovative technologies, policy environments, and social contexts shaping sustainable urban living. The European ReHousIn project will result in the production of maps, reports, and comparative analyses, shedding light on the challenges of ecological transition and their social implications.
Four students from the Master's program in Governing the Large Metropolis, supervised by urban architect Amalle Gualleze, will propose a comparative analysis to identify relevant and useful courses of action for those responsible for Mayotte's reconstruction. They will conduct field visits and meet with stakeholders to gather their perspectives on the social implications of ecological transition policies, benefiting from occasional support from researchers, notably from the CEE.
The reconstruction of Mayotte is intended to be an opportunity to rethink models of local development by integrating principles of durability, resilience, and social equality. The AESOP 2025 conference, where the students will present their main results, will provide a platform for sharing these insights and fostering collaboration between academia, policymakers, and local stakeholders.
This collaborative approach between the AESOP Congress 2024, the ReHousIn project, and the students' research will contribute significantly to Mayotte's reconstruction, ensuring that it is not only resilient to future natural disasters but also socially equitable and environmentally sustainable.
The AESOP Congress, focused on disaster recovery and resilient urban planning, provided a platform for learning about strategies for post-cyclone reconstruction in Mayotte, involving environmental-science discussions and knowledge-sharing on climate-resilient housing models. The European ReHousIn project, which examines ecological transition in housing across major European cities, also serves as a valuable learning resource for Mayotte's reconstruction, offering insights into the social and environmental implications of sustainable housing policies.
