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Governance of densification and climate change adaptation : How can conflicting demands for housing and greening in cities be reconciled?

Erlwein, Sabrina ; Meister, Juliane ; Wamsler, Christine LU and Pauleit, Stephan (2023) In Land Use Policy 128.
Abstract

Urban green spaces are important for climate change adaptation, in particular to reduce the negative impacts of heat waves on human well-being. However, in growing cities urban green spaces are under pressure due to increasing housing demand and densification. Municipalities face the challenge of addressing both the housing shortage and the need for climate change adaptation on limited space. This study assessed the barriers that hinder successful integration in urban policymaking. More specifically, it analyses structural conditions impeding or promoting climate resilient urban development in growing, densifying areas. Based on interviews with urban and green space planning officers and policy analyses, we investigate current... (More)

Urban green spaces are important for climate change adaptation, in particular to reduce the negative impacts of heat waves on human well-being. However, in growing cities urban green spaces are under pressure due to increasing housing demand and densification. Municipalities face the challenge of addressing both the housing shortage and the need for climate change adaptation on limited space. This study assessed the barriers that hinder successful integration in urban policymaking. More specifically, it analyses structural conditions impeding or promoting climate resilient urban development in growing, densifying areas. Based on interviews with urban and green space planning officers and policy analyses, we investigate current discourses and the interrelations between actors, power, resources and regulations. Our results show that improved cooperation between individual administrative departments, as well as administration and politics is decisive for better integration of green spaces in urban planning, negotiations with investors and sustained citizen involvement. Certain departmental structures and working routines can help to promote such cooperation. We show that it is not the availability of resources alone that is key for integration, as commonly suggested. Instead, transparent communication, the co-development of rules and resolutions with the public, and strategic external resource management are needed for solving conflicting demands for densification and greening in cities. We conclude with recommendations for research, policy and practice.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Climate change adaptation, Densification, Green infrastructure, Urban policymaking
in
Land Use Policy
volume
128
article number
106593
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85150076896
ISSN
0264-8377
DOI
10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106593
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
867e0994-69e9-4095-80b6-ef85bdb65ec5
date added to LUP
2023-04-24 11:57:39
date last changed
2023-04-24 11:57:39
@article{867e0994-69e9-4095-80b6-ef85bdb65ec5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Urban green spaces are important for climate change adaptation, in particular to reduce the negative impacts of heat waves on human well-being. However, in growing cities urban green spaces are under pressure due to increasing housing demand and densification. Municipalities face the challenge of addressing both the housing shortage and the need for climate change adaptation on limited space. This study assessed the barriers that hinder successful integration in urban policymaking. More specifically, it analyses structural conditions impeding or promoting climate resilient urban development in growing, densifying areas. Based on interviews with urban and green space planning officers and policy analyses, we investigate current discourses and the interrelations between actors, power, resources and regulations. Our results show that improved cooperation between individual administrative departments, as well as administration and politics is decisive for better integration of green spaces in urban planning, negotiations with investors and sustained citizen involvement. Certain departmental structures and working routines can help to promote such cooperation. We show that it is not the availability of resources alone that is key for integration, as commonly suggested. Instead, transparent communication, the co-development of rules and resolutions with the public, and strategic external resource management are needed for solving conflicting demands for densification and greening in cities. We conclude with recommendations for research, policy and practice.</p>}},
  author       = {{Erlwein, Sabrina and Meister, Juliane and Wamsler, Christine and Pauleit, Stephan}},
  issn         = {{0264-8377}},
  keywords     = {{Climate change adaptation; Densification; Green infrastructure; Urban policymaking}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Land Use Policy}},
  title        = {{Governance of densification and climate change adaptation : How can conflicting demands for housing and greening in cities be reconciled?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106593}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106593}},
  volume       = {{128}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}