OADD 2240 - Urban Sustainability: The Transition to the Carbon Neutral and Circular Economy in Cities
This course will explore the theoretical and practical applications of the transition from a linear to a carbon neutral and circular economy in cities, in line with global agendas such as the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. First, the course will discuss key opportunities and challenges for cities to become carbon neutral, and explore effective policy reform options applying a ‘territorial approach'. Key considerations include: integrating land use, housing and transport policies; promoting energy efficiency in buildings; linking mitigation and adaptation measures; and promoting urban green growth and well-being. Second, the course will discuss key concepts of the circular economy introduced in the economic literature, and then analyse the role of cities as promoters, facilitators and enablers of the circular economy, in a shared responsibility with national governments and stakeholders.
Learning Outcomes:
1. Understanding of key concepts linked to the carbon neutral and circular economy
2. Understanding of key national and subnational policy reform options to drive the zero-carbon transition in cities, applying a ‘territorial approach'
3. Ability to identify governance gaps and solutions within a systemic approach Professional Skills:
- Analytical thinking
- Drafting a short article/policy brief
- Teamwork and Team Leadership
Tadashi MATSUMOTO
Séminaire
English
Course workload:
- Attendance: 24 hours
- Online learning activities: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 0.5-1 hour a week / 8-12 hours a semester
- Research and Preparation for Group Work: 12-18 hours a semester
- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 12-18 hours a semester
Spring 2023-2024
Assessment:
Participation: 10%
Two group presentations: 50%
A take-home paper (individual work): 40%
Pedagogical and feedback format:
- Two group presentations are planned (mid-term and end-term).
- The instructors will provide feedback to each presentation.
- Feedback will also be provided to the individual paperwork.
1. OECD (2020), Managing environmental and energy transitions for regions and cities, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/f0c6621f-en.
2. OECD (2020), The Circular Economy in Cities and Regions: Synthesis Report, OECD Urban Studies, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/10ac6ae4-en.Pearce, D. and R. Turner (1990), Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment.
3. OECD (2019), An integrated approach to the Paris Climate Agreement: The role of regions and cities, OECD Regional Development Working Papers, No. 2019/13, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/96b5676d-en.
5. Blomsma, F. and G. Brennan (2017), The emergence of circular economy: A new framing around prolonging resource productivity, Journal of Industrial Ecology, Vol. 21/3, pp. 603- 614, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12603.
8. Coalition for Urban Transitions (CUT) (2019), Climate Emergency, Urban Opportunity: How National Government Can Secure Economic Prosperity and Avert Climate Catastrophe by Transforming Cities, accessible at https://urbantransitions.global/en/publicati
9. EC (2020), A New Circular Economy Action Plan for a Cleaner and More Competitive Europe, European Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/pdf/new_circular_economy_action_plan.pdf.
11. IPCC (2018), Global Warming of 1.5°C: An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), https://www.ipcc
13. Korhonen, J. et al. (2018), Circular economy as an essentially contested concept, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 175, pp. 544-552, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.111.
21. Pasimeni, M.R., Valente, D., Zurlini, G. & I. Petrosillo (2019), The interplay between urban mitigation and adaptation strategies to face climate change in two European countries, Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 95, https://doi.org/10.1016/j
4. Ahlfeldt, G., et al. (2018), "Demystifying compact urban growth: Evidence from 300 studies from across the world", OECD Regional Development Working Papers, No. 2018/03, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/bbea8b78-en
7. Bush, J. and A. Doyon (2019), Building urban resilience with nature-based solutions: How can urban planning contribute?, Cities, Volume 95, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2019.102483.
10. Hsu, A., Brandt, J., Widerberg, O., Chan, S., & A. Weinfurter (2019), Exploring links between national climate strategies and non-state and subnational climate action in nationally determined contributions (NDCs), Climate Policy, DOI: 10.1080/146930
14. Lioubimtseva, E. & C. da Cunha (2020), Local climate change adaptation plans in the US and France: Comparison and lessons learned in 2007-2017, Urban Climate, Volume 31, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2019.100577.
15. Moreno Monroy, A., et al. (2020), "Housing policies for sustainable and inclusive cities: How national governments can deliver affordable housing and compact urban development", OECD Regional Development Working Papers, No. 2020/03, OECD Publishing
16. OECD (2021), OECD Regional Outlook 2021: Addressing COVID-19 and Moving to Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/17017efe-en.
20. OECD/UN-HABITAT/UNOPS (2021), Global State of National Urban Policy 2021: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Delivering Climate Action, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/96eee083-en.
25. UNFCCC (2015), The Paris Agreement, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 21st Conference of the Parties, https://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agreement.pdf.