Advancing urban transitions and transformations research

Jonas Torrens,Linda Westman,Marc Wolfram,Vanessa Castán Broto,Jake Barnes,Markus Egermann,Franziska Ehnert,Niki Frantzeskaki,Chiara Farné Fratini,Irene Håkansson,Katharina Hölscher,Ping Huang,Rob Raven,Antonia Sattlegger,Kaisa Schmidt-Thomé,Emilia Smeds,Nina Vogel,Josefin Wangel,Timo Von Wirth

doi:10.1016/j.eist.2021.10.026

Abstract

Urban transitions and transformations research fosters a dialogue between sustainability transitions theory an inter- and transdisciplinary research on urban change. As a field, urban transitions and transformations research encompasses plural analytical and conceptual perspectives. In doing so, this field opens up sustainability transitions research to new communities of practice in urban environments, including mayors, transnational municipal networks, and international organizations.

Highlights

IntroductionThe urban transitions and transformations (UTT) research field analyses the role of cities in contemporary transformations (Holscher and Frantzeskaki, 2021)
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions xxx (xxxx) xxxAchieving sustainability depends on delivering action at the urban scale
The urban transitions and transformations (UTT) research field analyses the role of cities in contemporary transformations (Holscher and Frantzeskaki, 2021)

Summary

Introduction

The urban transitions and transformations (UTT) research field analyses the role of cities in contemporary transformations (Holscher and Frantzeskaki, 2021). The relationship between sus tainability transitions and urban change became a focus of transition studies in the 2000s, when scholars pointed out that prevalent analytical approaches overlooked the dynamics of local action in cities and urban areas (e.g., Bulkeley et al, 2011; Frantzeskaki et al, 2017). Since 2018, the Urban Transitions and Transformations thematic group within the Sustainability Transitions Research Network (STRN) has engaged actively in these debates. This viewpoint reviews current debates in UTT research and proposes directions for advancing the field. Transitions and transformations approaches have different entry points for analyzing radical systemic change towards sustainability, and they generate multiple and innovative research avenues (Holscher et al, 2018; Holscher and Frantzeskaki, 2021)

New perspectives on space and transitions

Rediscovering nature in transitions

Politics of urban change

Planning and governing change

New research openings