ENP-36806 Governance for Sustainable Cities

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lectures24
Literature study
Practical extensively supervised4
Project learning6
Tutorial14
Course coordinator(s)dr. IJC Boas
Lecturer(s)dr. ir. LWA van Hove
prof. dr. MC Krol
dr. IJC Boas
Examiner(s)dr. IJC Boas
prof. dr. MC Krol

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Basic knowledge on urban environmental management, environmental sciences and environmental policy.

Contents:

This course focuses on both general concepts of sustainable cities and the analysis of specific areas of sustainability. Questions of sustainability are approached from an international perspective. Conceptually, the course is based on general theories and models that have been developed in political science, public policy, public management and public administration, but it also focuses on specific policies such as urban air pollution and urban climate policy. The course consists of four topics:
1) Introduction to the governance of sustainable cities and city-regions, including an overview on the - economic, political, and social dynamics that influence the growth and development of cities:
- international and national context of local sustainability;
- institutionalization of environmental policy and sustainable development at the local level;
2) General concepts and debates relevant for the analysis of urban sustainability:
- basic concepts and theories on governance, transition management, stakeholder and citizen participation, etc.;
- forms of horizontal collaboration such as the cooperation between public and private actors, and the emergence of transnational city networks;
- forms of vertical collaboration such as the cooperation between local, national and international institutions;
3) Specific issues related to environmental policy in urban environments:
- air quality and city climate;
- mechanisms of urban air pollution;
- local climate change policies, including energy policies.
4) Scenarios and alternatives for the city of the future and the development of cities in ways which reduce environmental damage, reduce the natural resources consumed by cities, and improve the citizens' quality of life.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- understand of the economic, political, and social dynamics that determine the way cities develop;
- understand 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 local sustainability and its social, economic, and environmental dimensions;
- apply these theories and models to climate and air pollution problems and to specific cities - analyse sustainable solutions to complex problems in a specific urban context;
understand as to how policies for local sustainability are formulated and implemented and how the development of urban sustainability strategies is influenced by governmental and non-governmental actors at different levels;
- analyse ways how sustainable cities can be created and developed.

Activities:

Lectures, studying the course literature, assignments for working groups (such as developing an action plan for becoming a fossil-fuel free city or developing a set of sustainability indicators), participation in a practical class, presenting case-study, guest lectures.

Examination:

The examination is based on a combination of methods:
- a written exam with open questions (40%);
- a group paper (30%);
- an individual essay (10%);
- a computer based written test based on assignments (20%).
Passing the course requires a grade of 5.5 or higher for each.

Literature:

See course guide.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Restricted Optional for: MUEUrban Environmental ManagementMSc4WD