The Future Flows Forward

As Paris faces the challenges of the 21st century—climate change, urbanization, social inequality—the Seine remains central to the city's plans. New floating infrastructure is being developed to adapt to rising water levels. Urban beaches and swimming areas will make the river more accessible for recreation. Green corridors along the banks will connect diverse neighborhoods while providing climate resilience.

Young Parisians like Malik Benhamou, an urban planner whose parents emigrated from Algeria, see the Seine as key to a more inclusive city: "The river can't be gentrified. It can't be privatized. It flows through rich neighborhoods and poor ones equally. If we design our city around the Seine, we design it around something that unites rather than divides."