Governance for Climate Resilient Cities

This course focuses on the analysis of specific areas of sustainability in cities: urban climate resilience and air quality. Questions of climate resilience are approached from a local (urban) and international perspective. Conceptually, the course is based on general theories that have been developed in political sciences, sociology, and public administration, but it also focuses on specific models of urban air pollution and urban climate resilience.

The course consists of four topics:

(1) Introduction to the governance of climate resilient cities,

including an overview of:

• The political, economic, and social dynamics that influence the growth and development of cities;
• The international and national context of local sustainability;
• The institutionalization of environmental policy and sustainable development at the local level;

(2) General concepts and debates relevant for the analysis of climate resilient cities:

• basic concepts and theories on governance, stakeholder and citizen participation;
• forms of horizontal collaboration such as the cooperation between public and private actors;
• forms of vertical collaboration such as the cooperation between local, national and international institutions.

(3) Air Quality and Climate Resilience

• mechanisms of urban air pollution; local climate change policies, including climate adaptation and mitigation policies.

(4) Scenarios and alternatives for governance of climate resilient cities

• the ways cities in the Global South and in the Western world are coping with environmental risks and governance dilemmas
• how to reduce the natural resources consumed by cities, and improve the citizens' quality of life.

• Demonstrate understanding of the political, economic, and social dynamics that determine the way cities develop

• Demonstrate understanding of urban climate and air pollution problems, processes and effects on environment and public health

• Identify the major theories and models which contribute to the concept of urban sustainability and its social, economic, and environmental dimensions

• Apply these theories and models to climate and air pollution problems and to specific cities

• Analyse solutions to problems of climate resilience and air pollution in a specific urban context

• Demonstrate understanding as to how policies for climate-resilient cities are formulated and implemented and how governmental and non-governmental actors influence the development of climate resilience strategies at different levels

• Present research results, both orally and in writing

• ? (50%) Group paper and presentation.
• ? (50%) 3 written assignments with open questions.

Bachelor level knowledge on urban environmental management, environmental sciences and environmental policy.

• See course guide.