Urban Governance for Sustainable Cities
Research summary
This project focuses on how urban governments and social stakeholders in China’s cities engage with major environmental risks and how they tackle the long overdue transition towards cities becoming more green, liveable and sustainable.
The research findings will be published in 2017 as:
"China’s Emerging Green Urban Governance - Tackling environmental and sustainability challenges at the city level"
Editors: Jørgen Delman, Yuan Ren, Outi Luova, Mattias Burell, Oscar Almén
Description
My contribution to the project:
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES ENTER THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR: DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREEN AT DISTRICT LEVEL IN TIANJIN, CHINA
Environmental policies are cross-sectoral by nature, and during their implementation they have to be adapted to the differing context of different sectors. Furthermore, there is variation in the implementation process between different geographical areas. In this chapter, I look at one poor and one wealthy inner urban district in the city of Tianjin, and at how each implements new environmental plans in its educational sector. Chinese districts have substantial freedom to adapt educational policies to fit local conditions, and schools themselves are encouraged to define and to emphasize their own specific priorities. Under these circumstances, how can environmental-policy goals be reached in an effective way?
My findings show that, with regard to numerical targets, the poor district did better than the rich one. This was because a green profile was cheap to acquire, it opened the door to substantial external funding, and it made possible an improved bargaining position vis-à-vis the city government. However, the rich district was able to provide solid resources for its schools, enabling them to excel in terms of qualitative objectives: i.e., nurturing green lifestyles and promoting respect for the environment. This study highlights (1) specific features of environmental-policy implementation in the educational sector, (2) various policy-implementation processes in inner urban districts, and (3) the importance of clear qualitative targets in the definition of policy goals. In the conclusion, I propose a model for governance dynamics in urban China.
More information
Research info
Research title
Urban Governance for Sustainable Cities
Research timeline
1.1.2013 - 1.12.2017
Keywords
accountability cities Education environment good governance governance green justice green transition NGO participation sustainable development urban urban planning
Region
Asia
Countries
China, Finland
Institution
University of Turku
Centre for East Asian Studies
Turku, Finland
Funding instrument
Other
Head of research
Outi Luova
Research team
Jörgen Delman, Oscar Almén, Mattias Burell, Ren Yuan
Partners
University of Copenhagen, University of Uppsala, Fudan University
Contact information
Outi Luova
Record last updated
25.8.2016