National policies for local urban sustainability: a new governance approach?

Joss, S. and Cowley, R. (2018) National policies for local urban sustainability: a new governance approach? In: Eames, M., Dixon, T., Hunt, M. and Lannon, S. (eds.) Retrofitting Cities for Tomorrow's World. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.: Chichester, West Sussex, pp. 227-245. ISBN 9781119007210 (doi: 10.1002/9781119007241.ch14)

Abstract

Cities have become a focal point for efforts to transition towards a more sustainable, low‐carbon society, with many municipal agencies championing ‘eco city’ initiatives of one kind or another. And yet, national policy initiatives frequently play an important – if sometimes overlooked – role, too. This chapter provides comparative perspectives on four recent national sustainable city programmes from France, India, Japan, and the UK. The analysis reveals two key insights: first, national policy is found to exercise a strong shaping role in what sustainable development for future cities is understood to be, which helps explain the considerable differences in priorities and approaches across countries. Secondly, beyond articulating strategic priorities, national policy may exercise a ‘soft’ governance function by incentivising and facilitating wider, voluntary governance networks in the effort to implement sustainable city projects locally. This innovative role, however, depends on the ability of national policy to produce resonance among societal actors and on its effective interaction with formal planning processes.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Joss, Professor Simon
• Authors: Joss, S., and Cowley, R.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Research Group: Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Retrofitting Cities for Tomorrow’s World
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
• ISBN: 9781119007210
• Published Online: 15 September 2017