As the world enters a political and economic whirlwind that is diverting humanity from the trajectory of decarbonization and resilience, it is important to return to a body of essential references to find the direction of our actions. Consolidated in the long human experience by narratives as much mythological and spiritual as scientific and technical, this body of work reconstitutes an essential philosophical reference point for navigating with hope and determination towards the horizon of ecological transition.

The UN has identified three strategies for decarbonizing mobility, emphasizing that they complement each other: technological innovation and optimization of transportation systems, modal shift from cars and airplanes to less polluting modes of transportation, and avoidance of motorized travel. However, several recent studies show that the vast majority of cities and countries around the world rely solely on innovation to decarbonize mobility and achieve the neutrality goals set by the Paris Climate Agreement (2015) for fear of impacting lifestyles. Yet achieving these goals requires acting on all three identified levers together. The fear of public authorities acting on modal shifts and the avoidance of motorized travel is undoubtedly unfounded, given that a significant portion of the population is ready to take the step. Regarding the social aspects of mobility, it is also notable that when measures are taken to discourage the use of automobiles, they are often blind to social inequalities and provoke rejection among the working classes, particularly because of the often particularly strong dependence on automobiles in these population categories. This is particularly due to the fact that they proceed by adding taxes that are supposed to be incentives and which concern more polluting vehicles (vignettes), access to certain areas (tolls) or the price of parking. Multiple examples could be cited throughout the world. The Yellow Vests in France, of course, but also the extension of London's urban toll, the price of transport in Santiago, Chile, and the Swiss people's rejection of the CO2 law in 2022. The risk of these political errors lies in nothing less than the abandonment of carbon neutrality policies due to a lack of popular support. Faced with these observations, it is imperative to conduct a fundamental reflection on space at all scales to develop territorial planning that allows and encourages the adoption of lifestyles free from dependence on mobility.