Urban sustainability and resilience: What the literature tells us about “lock-ins”?

Abstract

Inherited system features and challenges that can hinder urban planning initiatives must be taken into consideration before a path towards a sustainable future can be established. By putting the lock-in effect under scrutiny, it is possible to gain valuable insight to emphasize positive lock-ins and to prevent maladaptation and unsustainable solutions. This paper aims to review the current trends of urban studies regarding sustainability, resilience, and the lock-in effect, focusing on both hot topics and mutual integration by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR protocol) and analyzing the top-cited articles on these topics from 2015 to 2021 in the Web of Science database. Based on the revised literature, the potential lock-ins of climate-friendly and sustainable urban development are not adequately discussed. Moreover, while urban sustainability and resilience are often treated as overlapping areas, there is a lack of publications that carefully examine their interlinked long-term perspectives for any hindering effects.

A transformative shift in urban ecology toward a more active and relevant future for the field and for cities

“…These built solutions were designed and built based on past conditions and are often unprepared for the uncertainties of current and future climate change pressures. Their prevalence is an effect of institutional lock-in that posits them as the preferred options for urban infrastructure development, with seemingly little consideration of urban sustainability or urban resilience goals (Buzási and Csizovszky 2023 ).…”

Resilience Assessment and Improvement Strategies for Urban Haze Disasters Based on Resident Activity Characteristics: A Case Study of Gaoyou, China

“…The main pollutants involved in air quality assessment are fine particulate matter, inhalable particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, and six other pollutants [29]. Among them, the second-level standard refers to an air pollution index of less than or equal to 100, indicating that the air quality has reached the excellent standard [30]. However, compared to similar cities, Gaoyou City still ranks relatively high in terms of air pollution levels among the key cities for environmental protection and control in China [30].…”

“…Among them, the second-level standard refers to an air pollution index of less than or equal to 100, indicating that the air quality has reached the excellent standard [30]. However, compared to similar cities, Gaoyou City still ranks relatively high in terms of air pollution levels among the key cities for environmental protection and control in China [30]. This study selected the main urban area of Gaoyou as the research object and collected the urban air pollution index based on air quality monitoring stations set up within the city (Figure 1).…”

“…The main urban area is the most densely populated, with modern service industries being the main industry type. There are few sources of air pollution in the area and most haze is imported from external areas [30]. Owing to the dense distribution of industrial enterprises near the northeastern side of the main urban area, the prevalence of north-eastern winds in winter, and the relatively flat terrain of the main urban area, traditional haze control methods are ineffective [30].…”

“…There are few sources of air pollution in the area and most haze is imported from external areas [30]. Owing to the dense distribution of industrial enterprises near the northeastern side of the main urban area, the prevalence of north-eastern winds in winter, and the relatively flat terrain of the main urban area, traditional haze control methods are ineffective [30]. Studies have shown that the effectiveness of unilaterally regulating haze pollution through industrial structure optimisation, environmental remediation, and other means is limited.…”