Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s13280-021-01521-1
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Title (Primary) Urban sustainability science: prospects for innovations through a system’s perspective, relational and transformations’ approaches
Author Frantzeskaki, N.; McPhearson, T.; Kabisch, N.
Source Titel Ambio
Year 2021
Department SUSOZ
Volume 50
Issue 9
Page From 1650
Page To 1658
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Keywords Cities; Nature-based solutions; Place; Sustainability; Systems; Transitions; Transformations
Abstract In this perspective, we present how three initial landmark papers on urban sustainability research contributed to the larger sustainability science scholarship and paved the way for the continued development of urban sustainability research. Based on this, we propose three conceptual innovation pathways to trace the progression of urban sustainability science: First, urban sustainability from a system’s perspective, meaning that urban sustainability requires integrative solutions to work in the tripled social-ecological-technological system setting. Second, urban sustainability from a (people and place) relational perspective, meaning urban sustainability is a contested and dynamic social-ecological contract of cities. As a governance mission, urban sustainability requires evidence from research that can inform coordinated action to bridge people, places, meanings, visions and ecosystems. Third, urban sustainability from a transformative science perspective, meaning that for urban sustainability to be achieved and progressed, deep transformations are required in systems, relations, policies and governance approaches. Our proposal for the future of urban sustainability science centres on emphasizing the relevance and policy applicability of systems’ thinking, value and place thinking and transitions/transformations thinking as fundamental to how knowledge is co-produced by research science, policy and society and becomes actionable.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=24428
Frantzeskaki, N., McPhearson, T., Kabisch, N. (2021):
Urban sustainability science: prospects for innovations through a system’s perspective, relational and transformations’ approaches
Ambio 50 (9), 1650 - 1658 10.1007/s13280-021-01521-1