Resilient, Sustainable Cities: A Future Dr Leonie J. Pearson

Dr Leonie Pearson Senior Research Fellow, University of Canberra - Institute for Governance and Public Policy Cheney Fellow Leeds University – Sustainability Research Institute

Context

What are practices to achieve Resilient Sustainable Cities?

City Resilience 4 Dimensions 12 Drivers (based on) 7 Qualities Found at http://www.100resilientcities.org

Sustainable City

(Safe water, equal, productive & biodiversity rich) High (Safe water, equal, productive & biodiversity rich) Goal Sustainable Cities Practices Low Low High (Reflective, Robust, Flexible and inclusive) Resilient Cities

Core Practices Goal Opportunities Blockers 1. Be Dynamic Collective visioning for low-carbon, equitable food, shelter Public-policy caution linked to electoral cycles 2. Start with people and place Community participation in planning. Balance & compromise using examples No shared narrative: separate stakeholder views and within government 3. Collaboration & social cohesion Working with grassroots organizations, explicit policy objectives & support Inertia and desire to minimize risk (esp. political risk).

Core Practices Goal Opportunities Blockers 4. Maximise equity, employment & justice Housing tenure, change in institutions, leadership engaged with community Lack of connection between community activism & strategic gov. action 5. Design to address externalities Integrated co-production design for multiple purposes, e.g. recreation, carbon sequestration, flood mitigation Disconnect between shot and long term evaluations 6. Value & enhance greenspace Green design No scaling procedures, public zoning and time 7. Technological innovation Private and public interest through collaborative research Legitimacy and salience to funders and users

How can we achieve Resilient Sustainable Cities?

3 Pathways Adaptation Transition Transformation Adjustment in the urban system Marginal change; technology, practices and organizations. Transition Gradual continual process of societal change Incremental change to secure goals Transformation Change in the city system and/ or environmental context Reform change focused on overarching social norms, political regime

Resilience in action; Melbourne; Dublin and San Francisco

Redeveloping Melbourne Practices Achieved Be Dynamic Somewhat Start with people Yes Collaborate & cohesion Maximise equity Design for externalities No Value greenspace Technological innovation Adaptation Pathway

Reusing Dublin Transition Pathway Practices Achieved Be Dynamic Yes Start with people Collaborate & cohesion Maximise equity Design for externalities No Value greenspace Technological innovation Transition Pathway

Transformation Pathway Parklets in San Fran Practices Achieved Be Dynamic Yes Start with people Collaborate & cohesion Mostly Maximise equity Design for externalities No Value greenspace Technological innovation Transformation Pathway

3 cities - 3 pathways to achieving resilient sustainable cities Is any one pathway better? Community specificity & scaling; depending on need, people, environment and infrastructure

Resilient Sustainable Cities: a future

Lots of steps happening; One step One event – TEDx Carlton One workshop One Journal Special Issue ‘Sustainable Urbanisation: a resilient future’ Ecological Economics (2013) One book Lots of steps happening; TURAS; Transitioning Towards Urban Resilience & Sustainability in EU 100RC

Summary Q1. What are the practices to achieve Resilient Sustainable Cities? Resilient Sustainable cities are about continuous change and improvement – not a static state! Outlined 7 practical ways to achieve these goals Q2. How can we achieve Resilient Sustainable Cities? Outlined 3 pathways to achieve these gaols: adaptation, transition and transformation Showed how in 3 case studies: Melbourne, Dublin & San Francisco

One step on the pathway to Resilient, Sustainable Cities Dr Leonie J. Pearson E: leonie.pearson@canberra.edu.au