Things you might have missed
A round-up of the most recent publications from the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy
The C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy produces timely, evidence-based research that presents a clear narrative of the economic and political strategies necessary to stop climate breakdown and drives the urban climate agenda towards an equitable and resilient world well under 1.5°C.
Here are some recent projects, articles, and podcasts that you may have missed.
From the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy Journal
Editor’s Choice
The latest Journal issue from the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy takes inspiration from Herman Daly’s work, a legendary figure in the establishment of ecological economics, and explores how Daly’s ideas could be downscaled to the city-level.
Daly argued that our economic systems and rules should reflect our values, the centrality of nature, and the physical limits of the planet. His work is more relevant than ever as we try to support government intervention that makes the system work for the shared prosperity of people and planet.
Commentary
What’s the difference between Post-Growth, Degrowth, The Doughnut, and Circular Economy?
By Federico Savini, University of Amsterdam
Cities are searching for policy strategies to meet climate and social targets while reducing their material footprint. To this end, post-growth approaches to urban sustainability have been gaining momentum. City officials, urban agencies, and policymakers recognize these terms as part of a same policy trend, yet, they often use them interchangeably and, in so doing, they risk making policy scenarios seem less incisive and inconsistent to the public. This commentary gives a guideline to the use of these terms.
Prosperity Beyond Growth: An Emerging Agenda for European Cities
By Ben Rogers, Nuno F. da Cruz, Francesco Ripa, and Imogen Hamilton-Jones, LSE Cities
In recent years, post-growth ideas and policies have been catching the attention of policymakers, activists, and academics across the globe. Most of the existing thought on post-growth has focused on the national or global levels; much less attention has been paid to what a distinctly urban post-growth political agenda might look like. This article begins to fill that gap, focusing on the European case and the cities currently at the forefront of post-growth experimentation.
How to Improve Public Transport.
By Jacob Mason, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
New technologies can improve public transport, but they are not always the best solutions. This commentary outlines four steps to aid decision-making on public transport.
Policy Guidelines
Language, Climate Change, and Cities Beyond Capitalism.
By Simon Mair, University of York
Transformative climate action is often opposed by appeals to its economic costs. But it is not an unchangeable set of economic laws that prevents climate action; rather, it is a set of stories specific to capitalist ways of organising economic activity. It is hard to envision an economy beyond capitalism because cultural forces (such as advertising) promote capitalist values. This article proposes three ways in which cities can support a cultural shift away from capitalism.
Wellbeing Economy Ideas for Cities: Lessons for Implementation.
By Saamah Abdallah, Rachel Laurence, Kate Pickett, Lisa Hough-Stewart, Luca Coscieme
Cities are critical to a sustainable transition, and the wellbeing economy provides a framework for achieving this. This article outlines the need for a wellbeing economy approach, and the origins of the concept. It then identifies six ‘ways of working’ that run through the approach and provides examples of how they have been, or could be, applied at city level.
Net Zero Corridors - Enabling Urban Regeneration and Net Zero Cities.
By Marie Verschuer and Peter Newman, Curtin University
The Net Zero city can be a new priority if urban professionals show that it enables cost-effective urban regeneration through the new concept of net zero corridors. The paper illustrates how it can work based on a five-year research project in Australian cities and outlines four delivery steps.
C40 Centre Podcast: Cities 1.5
Season 3 of Cities 1.5 is coming! In this season, we’re focusing on how urban leaders are driving local climate action with global impacts. From C40’s own Executive Director, Mark Watts and Founder and CEO of Global Black Maternal Health, Agnes Ageypong to youth climate activist, Xiye Bastida.
Hear from scientists, mayors, academics, and activists across six continents about how cities can cut emissions while addressing the social injustices of the climate crisis.
Listen online and subscribe to Cities 1.5 wherever you listen to podcasts.
Students Reinventing Cities
C40 Cities is calling on academics, students, and universities worldwide to collaborate with city governments to transform urban areas through its Students Reinventing Cities design challenge.
17 cities are seeking innovative solutions from students in higher education (of any age, region, and discipline) to reimagine real-life areas into inclusive, thriving, and climate-resilient spaces. Join over 220 universities and 2000 students in this global movement shaping the future of our cities. Use the competition as part of your course and connect your students' ideas with city leaders.
Learn more at this link or email students-reinventingcities@c40.org.