Sumário:The art of sustainable development at the European Court of Human Rights. A. framing an ambitious theorical outline -- A hostile statutory environment -- The triumph of judicial exploration. B. The growth of an autonomous jurisprudence -- Property as an instrument of protection -- Property as an instrument of control -- The passivity of Canadian courts. A. Treacherous sands for Quebec judges -- A neutral statutory environment -- A timid and perfunctory exploration -- B. A forbidden beach for the Supreme Court of Canada -- The bold exploration of the Canadian Charter -- Property as a terra nullius - "this is not my beach".