One water in Los Angeles? Contesting the circular city through infrastructural practices

In this article I demonstrate the coexistence of multiple urban governance regimes in Delhi, India. While formal urban governance is geared toward transforming Delhi into a “world-class” city, I present original research that shows how the everyday governance of urban space in three very different areas of Delhi is determined by relations among non-state actors. These regimes foster access to space for street hawkers on an everyday basis while they allow powerful local interest groups to collect rent and influence flows of people and commodities. I argue that, in contrast to formal electoral politics, these governance regimes emerge from a parallel politics of everyday interactions, negotiations, and transgressions. Although the emancipatory potential of these regimes should not be overstated, they do offer street hawkers limited contingency to improve their access to urban space. This article contributes to a growing body of work on urban governance by showing how multiplicities of governance regimes coexist and determine how and by whom urban space is used in a metropolis in the global South.

Since the late 20th century, cities have progressively developed strategies for greening and regenerating natural spaces to address the effects of climate change. Urban climate adaptation, however, is a complex challenge that extends beyond technical solutions, requiring collective action among multiple stakeholders with diverse interests. From an academic perspective, although organisational theories and institutional approaches have contributed to understanding socio-cultural factors in urban regeneration processes, the analysis of the interaction between the ecological dimension and collaborative governance of urban natural spaces has remained relatively absent. This research addresses this gap by exploring how to combine socio-ecological factors in the design and maintenance of urban natural spaces that promote effective and sustainable collaborative management between public administrations, particularly city councils, and citizens. To this end, the theoretical framework of Elinor Ostrom's Social-Ecological Systems (SES) is adapted to the urban context, applying it to six ethnographic case studies in the Netherlands and Spain. This interdisciplinary approach connects urban planning, sociology, anthropology and environmental management, applying them to climate adaptation and collaborative governance through the analysis of organisational (such as decision-making), ecological (such as surface), and semiotic (cultural meanings) factors. The findings reveal that (co)management is not solely dependent on clear rules and the cultivation of trust among involved agents, but also on the physical characteristics of the natural space, its configuration within the urban fabric, and the symbolic representations embedded therein. Specific combinations of factors are identified that facilitate effective collaboration over time, such as a moderate resource scale, joint monitoring, the acquisition of technical knowledge by citizens, and the establishment of legal mechanisms that legitimise and support forms of collective management, among others combinations. Building on the resulting empirical evidence, a matrix of interrelated socio-ecological factors and a typology of collaborative management forms are presented. These tools aim to assist planners, managers, and policymakers in designing and governing urban natural spaces that enhance collective action for climate adaptation, thereby strengthening social and ecological resilience in cities and the capacity to face climatic uncertainty. RESUMEN Desde finales del siglo XX, en las ciudades se han desarrollado progresivamente estrategias de reverdecimiento y regeneración de espacios naturales con el propósito de enfrentar los efectos del cambio climático. No obstante, la adaptación climática urbana es un problema complejo, no meramente técnico, sino un desafío de acción colectiva en el que intervienen múltiples agentes con intereses diversos. Desde la perspectiva académica, aunque las teorías organizativas y los enfoques institucionales han contribuido a comprender factores socio-culturales en los procesos de regeneración urbana, ha permanecido relativamente ausente el análisis de la interacción entre la dimensión ecológica y la gobernanza colaborativa de los espacios naturales urbanos. La presente investigación aborda esta carencia al explorar cómo combinar factores socio-ecológicos en el diseño y mantenimiento de espacios naturales urbanos que favorezcan una gestión colaborativa efectiva y sostenible entre administraciones públicas, concretamente ayuntamientos, y ciudadanía. Para ello, se adapta el marco teórico de Sistemas Socio-Ecológicos (SES) de Elinor Ostrom al contexto urbano, aplicándolo en seis casos de estudio etnográficos en Países Bajos y España. Este enfoque interdisciplinar conecta planificación urbana, sociología, antropología y gestión ambiental, aplicándolo a la adaptación climática y gobernanza colaborativa, mediante el análisis de factores organizativos (como la toma de decisión), ecológicos (como la superficie) y semióticos (significados culturales). Los resultados muestran que la (co)gestión no solo depende de reglas claras y de la construcción de confianza entre agentes involucrados, sino también de las características físicas del espacio natural, su configuración en el entorno construido y las representaciones simbólicas embebidas en él, entre otros. Se identifican combinaciones específicas de factores que facilitan la colaboración efectiva y sostenida en el tiempo, como una escala moderada del recurso natural, la posibilidad de monitoreo compartido, el desarrollo de conocimiento técnico por parte de la ciudadanía y la existencia de figuras legales que legitimen formas de gestión colectiva. A partir de la evidencia empírica resultante, se presenta una matriz de factores socio-ecológicos interrelacionados y una tipología de formas de gestión colaborativa. Estas herramientas persiguen orientar a planificadores/as, gestores/as y responsables políticos en el diseño y gestión de espacios naturales urbanos que potencien la acción colectiva para la adaptación climática, reforzando así la resiliencia social y ecológica en las ciudades y la capacidad para enfrentar la incertidumbre climática.

New challenges for adaptive urban governance in highly dynamic environments: Revisiting planning systems and tools for adaptive and strategic planning

This paper calls for a new reading of Fontane's Berlin novels, one that critically examines how the author's portrayals of such leisure sites as Tiergarten, Stralau, Treptow, Hankels Ablage, and Halensee reflect a democratization of leisure in which all Berliners, regardless of class, have access to a growing number of opportunities for recreation, pleasure, and relaxation. Resulting tensions between these locations as places of comfort and refuge and as urban spaces of crowds, chaos, and modern articulations of consumer society highlight these texts' representations of the dynamic and modern city. As a result, Fontane's Berlin novels reveal a spectrum of experience that is very much intricately tied to the vicissitudes of modern city life. From despair to acceptance and from celebration to mockery, the novels use the experience of leisure at these sites to strike various tones that ultimately capture the ambivalent and unpredictable character of life in the modern metropolis of Berlin.

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The purpose of this article is to review the almost 50 years of formal regional and local history research practices in South Africa under the umbrella of a variety of rural and urban trends, themes and phenomena. This revisit of research practice is not approached from the traditional angle of critically debating the visibility of the research in historiography through publications (it is, after all, an extraordinarily broad field of study to cover, which may not correctly serve each author in the broader and/or local history). Rather the focus is on analysing where and when regional or local history in South Africa got its momentum and how historians have broadly assessed their progress and future in presenting and carrying out regional and local history research. International influences on historians and other academics in the humanities and social sciences which surface are also discussed. The reader is also exposed to a concise exposition of modern-day efforts in the field of integrative research that have been necessary in regional and/or local history research for decades. Local research methodologies used in the past have been combined with integrative methodology models to create an integrative multidisciplinary research methodology required for carrying out regional and local research in modern-day practice. Because no single definition of the concepts of local and regional history exists, its meaning in literature is first thrashed out to strengthen understanding of the term and the approach to it in this discussion. This debate, among others, was inspired by, and is part of, the commemoration of the journal New Contree’s 35 years of existence. The journal’s involvement in the dissemination of regional and urban history, especially during the early part of its existence, is discussed. It is hoped that this article’s review of the past will inspire South African historians to revisit regional, local, urban and/or rural spaces and places in South Africa. This could be done perhaps with the view to strengthening the methodologies used in regional history studies and to ambitiously embrace possibilities for engaging in a variety of integrative research from bottom-up and top-down perspectives. This may be the only way to progress towards inclusive regional histories as contributions to the understanding of regions.

Water sprays from an open fire hydrant in Brooklyn, New York, in the midst of a July 2010 heat wave that affected much of the eastern United States.In 2007 the New York City Department of Environmental Protection first teamed up with Alianza Dominicana, a Washington Heights community organization, to educate city residents about the appropriate use of fire hydrants and other ways

Urban green spaces are integral to climate resilience, offering benefits such as mitigating urban heat, improving air quality, and enhancing well-being. Public parks in Delhi serve as vital community assets, yet their effectiveness in climate adaptation depends on public perception, accessibility, and engagement. This study examines how residents perceive and utilize urban parks, focusing on their awareness of climate benefits, usage patterns, and challenges related to accessibility, maintenance, and governance.Findings suggest that while people widely acknowledge the environmental and health benefits of urban green spaces, their role in reducing urban temperatures is also recognized. Many residents noted that houses near parks experience cooler microclimates, leading to lower electricity consumption compared to areas with fewer green spaces. Relaxation and physical activity emerged as primary motivations for park visits, yet extreme weather conditions, safety concerns, and inadequate infrastructure often deterred regular use. Despite these challenges, there is strong public support for increasing tree cover, expanding shaded areas, improving park management, and ensuring better accessibility to green spaces, particularly for marginalized communities. Additionally, there is significant willingness among residents to pay for the services provided by these green spaces, further underscoring their perceived value in climate adaptation and urban living.These insights highlight the crucial role that public perception, accessibility, and participation play in the success of urban climate adaptation strategies. Engaging communities in the planning and management of urban green spaces is key to ensuring that these areas are effectively utilized for climate mitigation and resilience. As climate change intensifies, fostering public awareness and support for green infrastructure can enhance the collective capacity of cities to adapt and thrive in a changing climate.

Tales of transforming cities: Transformative climate governance capacities in New York City, U.S. and Rotterdam, Netherlands

Examining the Role of NGOs in urban environmental governance

Taking the globalization and urbanization faced by megalopolis development as background, "governance" and "urban governance" as core point and objective, discussing the transform of urban fringe governance which is different from the traditional concept of "urban government". Bringing forward the principles and methods of dividing the urban fringe with "governance" thought, such as principle of combination of dynamics and relative stability, principle of combination of independency and consistency, principle of combination of planning guide and urban acting force, principle of objectivity and easy operation. Putting forward that the main method of fringe governance is "multi-point whole governance" model depends on two-level transform, adjustment of administrative division and fostering and development of relatively independent satellite towns. Combined with policy guide, analyzing the impact on the urban fringe space governance by the policy change of the industry, population, housing, land, planning.

SummaryRapidly expanding urban settlements in the developing world face severe climatic risks in light of climate change. Urban populations will increasingly be forced to cope with increased incidents of flooding, air and water pollution, heat stress and vector‐borne diseases. This research, undertaken with a set of partner research institutes, examines how to manage climate‐related impacts in an urban context by promoting planned and autonomous adaptation in order to by improve resilience in a changing climate. It investigates the linkages between the characteristics of pro‐poor good urban governance, climate adaptation and resilience, and poverty and sustainable development concerns. The paper develops an analytical framework by combining governance literature with rapid climate resilience assessments conducted in ten Asian cities. Based on this empirical data, we argue that a number of key characteristics can be identified to assess and build urban resilience to climate change in a way that reduces the vulnerability of the citizens most at risk from climate shocks and stresses. These characteristics form the basis of a climate resilient urban governance assessment framework, and include (1) decentralisation and autonomy, (2) accountability and transparency, (3) responsiveness and flexibility, (4) participation and inclusion and (5) experience and support. This framework can help to assist in the planning, design and implementation of urban climate change resilience‐building programmes in the future.

Comprehensive local climate policy: The role of urban governance

The water sector is increasingly facing unprecedented challenges and disruptive change, as are many other sectors of the economy. Market shifts, privatisation, increasing competition, technological innovation, and changing consumer behaviour pose significant challenges for water utilities. Such factors have been disruptive to many other sectors, including energy and telecommunications, which have often been caught unprepared. The next phase of disruptions will impact the water sector, and the partial privatisation of water assets is just the beginning of this process. Climate change impacts will exacerbate all these challenges. Action needs to be taken now if threats are to be turned into opportunities. This paper examines the barriers and enablers of climate adaptation in the water sector. It uses data collected through informal meetings (short conversations), semi-structured in-depth interviews and a workshop on climate change adaptation with selected representatives from water/wastewater utilities across Australia. The results indicate that utilities face both internal and external barriers to adaptation. Barriers faced by the water sector are similar to those in other sectors and include community values and perceptions, high costs of adaptation and community’s reluctance to pay, political instability and sensitivity of climate change across all Australian states, and lack of coordination and collaboration between organisations.