City-Level Decoupling-Full Report

City-Level Decoupling: Urban resource flows and the governance of infrastructure transitions

6 Transitions toward sustainable cities

6.1 Introduction: approaches to transitions The critical questions that follow from the preceding discussion of the role of infrastructure in city-scale decoupling and ecosystem restoration are: • To what extent can decision-makers at the city level govern and shape transitions in infrastructure systems and the resources that flow through them? • How might the relationships between cities, infrastructure systems and the organisation of resource flows need to change in order to realise more sustainable outcomes? First, sustainability-oriented innovations (SOIs) will need to become the operating systems for a new generation of vibrant, expanding and socially inclusive urban economies. Investments in innovation have long been important generators of economic value. However, to date most innovations have been motivated by the pursuit of economic growth with relatively little attention given to environmental considerations. SOIs are inspired by goals that go far beyond economic growth to include social inclusion (specifically poverty reduction in developing countries) and sustainability (most often reduced negative impacts but also improved resource productivity). The increasingly well- known Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) helps understand the relationships between the To answer these questions, the following addresses three key challenges:

macro-context of structural change, the logic and structure of existing socio-technical regimes, and niche innovations. 100 Second, in order for SOIs to become a driver of urban economies, the relationship between government (in particular local government) and society will need to evolve. Historically, many governments acted upon society in accordance with masterplans generated by specialists who tended to downplay the role of citizens. The recent rise of active civil societies supported by the power of internet-based communications has resulted in the emergence of the energetic society: “[a] society of articulate citizens, with an unprecedented reaction speed, learning ability and creativity.” 101 As Hajer argues:

“It will become important in the coming decades to govern by mobilising social energy. There is a future for an innovative, vital society founded on sustainability. Innovations mean scope for action and initiative, accepting the fact that mistakes will be made, and making certain that the best improvements are identified and distributed rapidly. This calls for a different type of government. Such a government sets clear objectives before going on to create room for other parties, implements knowledge, know-how and regulations to help promote promising combinations of initiatives, and creates the institutional frameworks within which citizens, organisations and entrepreneurs can develop and directly benefit from sustainable innovation.” 102

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