17. Thriving Neighbourhoods

Next week I will be attending and speaking at the Thriving Neighbourhoods Conference in Melbourne. It is a conference on emerging global approaches to the planning, design and management of communities and cities that are set to radically improve the sustainability, liveability, health, and productivity of communities. Here is what I will be saying and presenting ...

Advancing Sustainable Urban Transformation: Learning from the Future?

Diverse processes of transformation, which lead to altered urban functions and new local needs and opportunities, constantly influence cities. Interpreting these different development processes and identifying and realising opportunities are growing challenges. There are exciting prospects for creating more sustainable and liveable urban environments because cities are focal points for creativity that provide possibilities for technological, organisational and social innovations. However, in spite of increased awareness and ambitions, there are few powerful initiatives that decisively shift urban development in a sustainable direction. A complex array of reasons is responsible for this situation, encompassing a lack of urgency of getting on with the changes that are needed and therefore inadequate political, business or broader social support, fragmentation in research activities as well as in urban practice and planning, and a significant separation between science and practice. The emerging concept of sustainable urban transformation places a strong emphasis on structural transformation processes – broad, multi-dimensional and radical change – that can effectively direct urban development towards sustainability. This involves understanding cities as a source of possibilities, promoting active collaboration among diverse stakeholders (particularly researchers and practitioners), and integrating different perspectives and bodies of knowledge and expertise. This presentation is based on a Special Volume of the Journal of Cleaner Production on Advancing Sustainable Urban Transformation, which contains 20 articles with experiences, insights and outlooks from over 40 cities in a diversity of countries around the world. This Special Volume contributes to knowledge and understanding on governance and planning, innovation and competitiveness, lifestyle and consumption, resource management and climate mitigation and adaptation, transport and accessibility, buildings, and social interaction and public space. Importantly, the lessons from this Special Volme are not only from the past and present, but from the future visions, plans and strategies for cities and communities in the context of sustainable urban transformation.