Converging Urban Agendas: Toward Healthy and Sustainable Communities
In light of recent developments such as the COP21 Paris climate agreement, the UN adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, and the Habitat III Conference, there is increasing recognition of the role of human settlements as key components of both global challenges and global solutions....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2016-07-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/5/3/28 |
| _version_ | 1818612286458167296 |
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| author | Mark Roseland Maria Spiliotopoulou |
| author_facet | Mark Roseland Maria Spiliotopoulou |
| author_sort | Mark Roseland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In light of recent developments such as the COP21 Paris climate agreement, the UN adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, and the Habitat III Conference, there is increasing recognition of the role of human settlements as key components of both global challenges and global solutions. “Urban sustainability” under various names has matured over the last three decades not only in planning and related fields, but also in wider professional and popular discourse. In this paper we trace a historical overview of urban sustainability theory and practice, and explain why urban sustainability planning and development currently face limited and inconsistent application. We show that this lack of public uptake is due in part to monitoring, assessment, and decision-support frameworks and tools that do not engage citizens and their governments in a shared “strong sustainability” analysis and/or vision. We argue that urban sustainability today clearly needs to embrace equity, inclusion, and other social considerations; contribute to constructive societal mobilisation and compelling policy-making; advocate for development as a better alternative to growth; encourage the integration of human and environmental health interests; and encompass triple-bottom-line-inspired outcomes. Focusing on community capital productivity and regeneration may be the key to advancing healthy and sustainable communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:43:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a0a0a95aaf3411695f9cd5f25e0ecac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:43:49Z |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a0a0a95aaf3411695f9cd5f25e0ecac2022-12-21T22:25:53ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602016-07-01532810.3390/socsci5030028socsci5030028Converging Urban Agendas: Toward Healthy and Sustainable CommunitiesMark Roseland0Maria Spiliotopoulou1Centre for Sustainable Community Development, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaCentre for Sustainable Community Development, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaIn light of recent developments such as the COP21 Paris climate agreement, the UN adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, and the Habitat III Conference, there is increasing recognition of the role of human settlements as key components of both global challenges and global solutions. “Urban sustainability” under various names has matured over the last three decades not only in planning and related fields, but also in wider professional and popular discourse. In this paper we trace a historical overview of urban sustainability theory and practice, and explain why urban sustainability planning and development currently face limited and inconsistent application. We show that this lack of public uptake is due in part to monitoring, assessment, and decision-support frameworks and tools that do not engage citizens and their governments in a shared “strong sustainability” analysis and/or vision. We argue that urban sustainability today clearly needs to embrace equity, inclusion, and other social considerations; contribute to constructive societal mobilisation and compelling policy-making; advocate for development as a better alternative to growth; encourage the integration of human and environmental health interests; and encompass triple-bottom-line-inspired outcomes. Focusing on community capital productivity and regeneration may be the key to advancing healthy and sustainable communities.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/5/3/28urban sustainabilitysustainable community developmenturban productivitysustainability planningsustainability frameworks |
| spellingShingle | Mark Roseland Maria Spiliotopoulou Converging Urban Agendas: Toward Healthy and Sustainable Communities Social Sciences urban sustainability sustainable community development urban productivity sustainability planning sustainability frameworks |
| title | Converging Urban Agendas: Toward Healthy and Sustainable Communities |
| title_full | Converging Urban Agendas: Toward Healthy and Sustainable Communities |
| title_fullStr | Converging Urban Agendas: Toward Healthy and Sustainable Communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Converging Urban Agendas: Toward Healthy and Sustainable Communities |
| title_short | Converging Urban Agendas: Toward Healthy and Sustainable Communities |
| title_sort | converging urban agendas toward healthy and sustainable communities |
| topic | urban sustainability sustainable community development urban productivity sustainability planning sustainability frameworks |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/5/3/28 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT markroseland convergingurbanagendastowardhealthyandsustainablecommunities AT mariaspiliotopoulou convergingurbanagendastowardhealthyandsustainablecommunities |