Low-Emissions Cities
TCM Case Study: Low-Emissions Cities (Speaker: F. Reusswig)
This case study looks at cities as socio-ecological systems, thereby stressing the need for transdisciplinary research. From a methodological point of view, the interplay between micro-tendencies and macro-behaviour is the most interesting aspect here. Can a handful of (large?) cities develop a critical mass of significant (global) GHG emissions reduction? What would be the major actors, what lifestyles are needed, what technologies need to be adopted, and what forms of urban (and national) governance are required in order to enable cities to reduce their urban carbon footprint?
These questions are currently addressed by two new research projects. The HYDERABAD project (funded by BMBF) looks at an emerging megacity in a developing country (India), whereas the GILDED project (funded by EU FP 7) compares city regions in five European countries (Aberdeen, Groningen, Potsdam, Budweis, Debrecen) along an East-West gradient. Both projects include climate discourse and stakeholder analysis, lifestyle and energy analysis, and policy and lifestyle intervention, and both do have a strong stakeholder dialogue component.
Within PIK, this case study offers synergies with urban studies in RD II (searching for an integration of adaptation and mitigation options) and in RD III (aiming at comparability of megacity systems across the globe). The transdisciplinary character of our approach to urban actors and systems (lifestyle, technology, governance; multi-level analysis) characterises our contribution. In addition, we work with international urban carbon research initiatives, and with the School of Sustainability of Arizona State University.
