Governing Sustainable Cities - Einzelansicht

This course focuses on both general concepts on sustainable cities and the analysis of specific areas of sustainability. Conceptually, it is based on general theories and models that have been developed in public policy, public management and public administration, but it also focuses on specific policies. Methodically, the course is based on a case study approach, but case studies will be explained and analyzed from a global, European, and (international) comparative perspective. The course concentrates on four topics:

(1) Introduction to the governance of sustainable cities and city-regions, including an overview on the dynamics that influence the growth and development of cities and city-regions; global, European, and national context of local sustainability; institutionalization of environmental policy and sustainable development at local level (such as Local Agenda 21);

(2) General concepts and debates relevant for the analysis of urban sustainability: basic concepts and theories on governance, social capital, stakeholder and citizen participation; forms of horizontal collaboration such as the cooperation within city-regions and the emergence of national and transnational city networks; forms of vertical collaboration such as the cooperation with national, European, and international institutions;

(3) Specific issues related to sustainable development in urban environments, in particular urban energy and climate policies and approaches to improve the resource efficiency of cities;

(4) Scenarios and alternatives for the ‘city of the future' and the development of cities in ways which reduce environmental damages, improve the resource efficiency of cities and improve the citizens' quality of life.