Workshop 'Transitioning towards sustainable European cities: a law and governance perspective' (webinar)
In Europe, the EU Green Deal is promoting the transition to climate neutral and smart cities. Yet, questions remain as to how this can be achieved within the existing multi-level and institutional framework. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to attend to urban inequality, ensuring that solutions are not only sustainable and smart, but also inclusive.
Taking stock of the latest developments across the world of science and practice, this workshop brings together legal and governance scholars to offer a fresh perspective on the transition to sustainable, as well as smart and inclusive European cities.
INFO
Cities are critical spaces to meeting the EU's climate and energy objectives. While they occupy just 2% of land, they host almost 75% of EU citizens and are responsible for about 70% of CO2 emissions in the EU. European cities are already at the forefront of promoting sustainable solutions.
Many cities have already engaged in initiatives to, for instance, stimulate energy neutral housing or reduce emissions from transportation, or ‘smarten’ their city. The COVID-19 pandemic is only further accelerating this trend, prompting cities to repurpose public spaces, for instance, constructing new bike lanes.
The transition towards a sustainable city represents a highly complex process that city governments cannot achieve by themselves, in splendid isolation. Vertically, cooperation and coordination need to be established across levels of governance, from the local to the global. Horizontally, instruments and mechanisms must be devised to encourage the involvement of citizens and business, as well as to work in an integrative way beyond sectoral borders and administrative silos.
Programme on Monday 7 June
| 13.00 | Welcome & Introduction to the workshop |
| 13.15 | Keynote by Mr. Franc Bogovič (European Parliament) |
| 14.00 | Coffee Break |
| 14.15 |
PANEL 1: PROMOTING THE GREEN TRANSITION IN A MULTI-LEVEL SETTING |
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Chair: Dr. Maja Brkan (Maastricht University) |
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Discussant: Dr. Phillip Paiement (Tilburg University) |
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| 16.00 | Coffee Break |
| 16.15 | PANEL 2: INVOLVING CITIZENS IN THE GREEN URBAN TRANSITION |
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Chair: Dr. Carlo Colombo (Maastricht University) |
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Discussant: Prof. Martijn Groenleer (Tilburg University) |
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| 17.30 | End of day 1 |
Programme on Tuesday 8 June
| 08.45 | Keynote Speech "Delivering on fragile achievements? The global urban governance of sustainability in a year of crises" by Prof. Michele Acuto (Melbourne University) |
| 09.30 | Coffee Break |
| 09.45 | PANEL 3: DEALING WITH COMPLEXITY IN URBAN GREEN TRANSITION |
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Chair: Dr. Marc Dijk (Maastricht University) |
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Discussant: Dr. Leonie Reins (Tilburg University) |
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| 11.00 | Coffee Break |
| 11.15 | PANEL 4: REGULATING INNOVATION FOR A GREEN TRANSITION IN EU CITIES |
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Chair: Prof. Martijn Groenleer (Tilburg University) |
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Discussant: Prof. Mariolina Eliantonio (Maastricht University) |
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| 12.30 |
Conclusion of the workshop and Follow-Up |
| 13.00 | End |
