Environmental inequalities as criterion for urban renewal policies in Brussels

Since its foundation in 1989, the Brussels-Capital Region has unfolded a policy of urban revitalization of central neighbourhoods facing socio-economic inequalities by funding renovation of housing, public space and facilities. The fundamental principle of this policy is to enhance the living environment of poor neighborhoods in order to rebalance urban development. Today, alongside the long-lasting problem of socio-economic inequalities and geographic uneven distribution of poverty and living quality, climate change emphasizes the problem of environmental vulnerability illustrated by growing exposure to flood risk, heat islands, etc. This short paper, based on my contribution to the Experts Committee for Climate report of the Brussels-Capital Region, explores how environmental vulnerability and inequalities are affecting urban governance and urban planning in Brussels. This raises the hypothesis that an in-depth reform of urban revitalization tools and a better articulation of climate change policies could answer the urgent need for tackling environmental inequalities.