National Policies for Local Urban Sustainability

Joss, Simon; Cowley, Robert

doi:10.1002/9781119007241.ch14

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Similar critique has been raised concerning high-level eco city projects in other parts of Asia, such as South Korea (Shwayri, 2013;Yigitcanlar and Lee, 2014), Abu Dhabi (Cugurullo, 2013; and India (Joss and Cowley, 2016). And in Europe, too, the challenge of policy implementation has become apparent, as for example reported in the case of the English eco-town initiative (Tomozeiu and Joss, 2014) and the French national Ecocité program (Boxenbaum et al, 2011).…”

Section: A C C E P T E D Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 94%

Eco city development in China: addressing the policy implementation challenge

Jong

Joss

et al. 2016

Journal of Cleaner Production

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Over the last few decades, China has seen a steep rise in diverse eco city and low carbon city policies. Recently, attention has begun to focus on the perceived shortcomings in the practical delivery of related initiatives, with several publications suggesting a gap between ambitious policy goals and the emerging realities of the newly built environment. To probe this further, M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPTin this article we examine -based on the policy network approach -how the gap between high-level national policies and local practice implementation can be explained in the current Chinese context. We develop a four-pronged typology of eco city projects based on differential involvement of key (policy) actor groups, followed by a mapping of what are salient policy network relations among these actors in each type. Our analysis suggests that, within the overall framework of national policy, a core axis in the network relations is that between local government and land developers. In some cases, central government agenciesoften with buy-in from international architecture, engineering and consulting firms -seek to influence local government planning through various incentives aimed at rendering sustainability a serious consideration. However, this is mostly done in a top-down manner, which overemphasizes a rational, technocratic planning mode while underemphasizing interrelationships among actors. This makes the emergence of a substantial implementation gap in eco city practice an almost predictable outcome. Consequently, we argue that special attention be paid in particular to the close interdependency between the interests of local government actors and those of land and real estate developers. Factoring in this aspect of the policy network is essential if eco city implementation is to gain proper traction on the ground.

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Section: A C C E P T E D Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 94%

Eco city development in China: addressing the policy implementation challenge

Jong

Joss

et al. 2016

Journal of Cleaner Production

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Not all of them have translated into implementational success. The Indian Eco-Cities scheme, for example, was widely criticised for failing to deliver on its goals (Joss & Cowley, 2017); the UK's eco-towns programme, meanwhile, was largely abandoned following a change of national government in 2010 (Tomozeiu & Joss, 2014). But while some can be interpreted as opportunistic or insufficiently embedded within longer-term planning, it remains interesting that the competition mechanism has repeatedly been adopted, and can itself be understood as an example of 'mobile' policymaking.…”

Section: National Urban Innovation Competitionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…South Korea's Smart Challenge, which awarded funding for projects in 14 cities and towns in 2019, has been followed up in 2020 by a second competition inviting local authorities to submit applications in partnership with universities or private companies (Smart City Korea, n.d.). Similarly, Japan's initial selection of 13 'Eco-Model Cities' in 2009 was extended to include a further 10 in a second phase running 2012-13 (Joss & Cowley, 2017). In turn, this also inspired the parallel FutureCity programme, established in 2011, whose thematic focus was more directly oriented towards socio-economic development (Promotion Council for the 'Future City ' Initiative, 2014, p.3;Regional Revitalization Bureau, 2014, p.4).…”

Section: National Urban Innovation Competitionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This continuity has been achieved despite several changes of the Japanese national government. Likewise, as of 2020, and despite changes of government and the ministries responsible, as many as 486 urban districts have been accredited to the French ÉcoQuartier scheme (Démarche ÉcoQuartier, n.d.), growing from an initial competition involving 14 projects in 2008-9 (Joss & Cowley, 2017). It should additionally be noted that, through the process of application, engagement with these competitionsand therefore, potentially, their influenceextends significantly beyond the winning cities.…”

Section: National Urban Innovation Competitionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…funds. Its open-ended approach contrasts with that of, for example, the Japanese Eco-Model City competition, which specified a comprehensive, multi-level governance structure involving particular stakeholder groups, including processes for independent committees to conduct regular evaluations, and thematic working groups to share best practice (Joss & Cowley, 2017).…”

Section: Factor 4: Reliance On Cross-sectoral Collaborationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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