Renouer avec le sens des limites. Les trajectoires écologiques possibles des villes petites et moyennes. L’exemple de Rochefort.

For several years, small and medium-sized cities in France have been incorporating ecological transition issues into their public policies. Rochefort authorities, which signed an ecological transition contract with the State in 2019, exemplifies this commitment, particularly in favour of the circular economy due to its significant industrial activities. Through various planning documents, the city implements adaptation strategies to deal with climate change (e.g., storms, marine submersion) by depaving asphalted surfaces, greening public spaces, and building a protective system of dykes. Doctoral research, employing qualitative methods, examined the perceptions and aspirations of residents, regarding the ecological and climate future of their living places. This research reveals that the vision proposed by the local authorities does not achieve consensus. Instead, residents envision an alternative trajectory that raises questions about urbanization, scale, and limits of the living environment, grounded in distinct ecological imaginaries and lived experiences.