Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.006
Sindu Deivanayagam , Maya M , Sankar Varma
The global push for sustainability and the urgency of addressing climate change have compelled city governments worldwide to prioritize the upkeep and restoration of urban commons. However, this state-led or private-driven greening often becomes a marker of gentrification. This study examines the ecological conservation policies applied to Periyakulam Lake in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and Hebbal Lake in Bengaluru, Karnataka, aiming to elucidate how these policies exhibit flaws and lack inclusivity. Through the lens of urban political ecology, the research scrutinizes the state-led and state-supported strategies, emphasizing their tendency to favour a minuscule population while perpetuating aspects of gentrification. It critically examines the dual phases of lakeside gentrification, wherein the first phase involves the modification of the lake under the label of rejuvenation. The subsequent phase witnessed a transformation in the surrounding region's social, spatial, and economic characteristics as it became increasingly attractive and subject to investment. Such processes displace and dispossess livelihoods and instil a new urban imaginary where only urban elites become the standpoint for such beautification consumption. This study contributes to the literature on lakeside gentrification and argues how state-led and state-supported extractive policies remove the safety valves for a stable future by negating the linkages between society and nature.
{"title":"Assessing the socio-ecological effects of lakeside gentrification—A case study of two lakes in South India","authors":"Sindu Deivanayagam , Maya M , Sankar Varma","doi":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global push for sustainability and the urgency of addressing climate change have compelled city governments worldwide to prioritize the upkeep and restoration of urban commons. However, this state-led or private-driven greening often becomes a marker of gentrification. This study examines the ecological conservation policies applied to Periyakulam Lake in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and Hebbal Lake in Bengaluru, Karnataka, aiming to elucidate how these policies exhibit flaws and lack inclusivity. Through the lens of urban political ecology, the research scrutinizes the state-led and state-supported strategies, emphasizing their tendency to favour a minuscule population while perpetuating aspects of gentrification. It critically examines the dual phases of lakeside gentrification, wherein the first phase involves the modification of the lake under the label of rejuvenation. The subsequent phase witnessed a transformation in the surrounding region's social, spatial, and economic characteristics as it became increasingly attractive and subject to investment. Such processes displace and dispossess livelihoods and instil a new urban imaginary where only urban elites become the standpoint for such beautification consumption. This study contributes to the literature on lakeside gentrification and argues how state-led and state-supported extractive policies remove the safety valves for a stable future by negating the linkages between society and nature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101266,"journal":{"name":"Urban Governance","volume":"5 4","pages":"Pages 542-558"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145428503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.002
Gaby D. Buitendijk , Jeroen Dikken , Roderick Wondergem , Joost van Hoof
The World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities’ (AFCC) framework has been widely adopted to improve urban environments for ageing populations. However, quantitative assessments such as the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire (AFCCQ) may not fully capture the everyday life experiences of older adults. This study explores what key factors influence older adults’ experiences of age-friendliness in the Leidschenveen-Ypenburg district of The Hague, the district with the lowest scores for age-friendliness. Using a multiple-case study design, we conducted in-depth qualitative research involving eight older participants. Data collection methods included AFCCQ surveys, semi-structured interviews, and home and neighbourhood observations. Thematic analysis revealed four key factors shaping age-friendly experiences: social support networks, physical limitations, financial constraints, and coping strategies. Where social support networks, physical limitations and coping strategies influenced both the social and physical environment, the financial constraints factor was most influencing experiences in the physical environment. Findings highlight the importance of addressing systemic barriers, enhancing social connectivity, and supporting adaptive strategies to improve the everyday life experience of older residents. This study offers critical implications for policymakers and urban planners striving to create truly inclusive and age-friendly environments.
{"title":"Beyond the metrics: Exploring key factors that influence how older residents experience age-friendliness in everyday life","authors":"Gaby D. Buitendijk , Jeroen Dikken , Roderick Wondergem , Joost van Hoof","doi":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities’ (AFCC) framework has been widely adopted to improve urban environments for ageing populations. However, quantitative assessments such as the Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Questionnaire (AFCCQ) may not fully capture the everyday life experiences of older adults. This study explores what key factors influence older adults’ experiences of age-friendliness in the Leidschenveen-Ypenburg district of The Hague, the district with the lowest scores for age-friendliness. Using a multiple-case study design, we conducted in-depth qualitative research involving eight older participants. Data collection methods included AFCCQ surveys, semi-structured interviews, and home and neighbourhood observations. Thematic analysis revealed four key factors shaping age-friendly experiences: social support networks, physical limitations, financial constraints, and coping strategies. Where social support networks, physical limitations and coping strategies influenced both the social and physical environment, the financial constraints factor was most influencing experiences in the physical environment. Findings highlight the importance of addressing systemic barriers, enhancing social connectivity, and supporting adaptive strategies to improve the everyday life experience of older residents. This study offers critical implications for policymakers and urban planners striving to create truly inclusive and age-friendly environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101266,"journal":{"name":"Urban Governance","volume":"5 4","pages":"Pages 500-511"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145428883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2025.09.002
Estibaliz Sanz , Lorenzo Chelleri , Aline Chiabai , Maria José Sanz
This paper addresses the climate governance in order to guide and boost integrated solutions while implementing solutions for both the climate and the health crises. Despite the proliferation of climate emergency declarations by local governments, there is a growing concern regarding their limited impact on real climate action. In addition, a great number of climate plans and strategies are in place, while little attention is devoted on how to assess and boost implementation and capacities to put them into practice. To address these gaps, this paper presents a conceptual framework to guide local governments on the effective implementation and promotion of climate policies.
The framework has been guided by a comprehensive literature review and in-depth interviews with policy makers and technical staff of in Spain. The resulting framework represents and innovative approach that incorporate three distinct “factors” — climate strategic decisions, capacity building and psychosocial involvement—, which have been further divided into 18 determinants and 53 corresponding indicators.
The development of this framework serves two primary purposes. Firstly, it aims to provide a comprehensive approach to explore the potential opportunities inherent in local governance for effectively driving climate policies. Secondly, it seeks to serve as a guiding tool for local governments in formulating and advancing their climate policies by utilizing the factors, determinants, and indicators incorporated within the conceptual framework. Lastly, the integration of the health perspective within this framework facilitates the identification and harnessing of synergies and benefits that can arise from the intersection of climate and health policies, emphasizing the importance of not neglecting this crucial aspect.
{"title":"Enhancing local governance for climate action: A guiding conceptual framework","authors":"Estibaliz Sanz , Lorenzo Chelleri , Aline Chiabai , Maria José Sanz","doi":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper addresses the climate governance in order to guide and boost integrated solutions while implementing solutions for both the climate and the health crises. Despite the proliferation of climate emergency declarations by local governments, there is a growing concern regarding their limited impact on real climate action. In addition, a great number of climate plans and strategies are in place, while little attention is devoted on how to assess and boost implementation and capacities to put them into practice. To address these gaps, this paper presents a conceptual framework to guide local governments on the effective implementation and promotion of climate policies.</div><div>The framework has been guided by a comprehensive literature review and in-depth interviews with policy makers and technical staff of in Spain. The resulting framework represents and innovative approach that incorporate three distinct “factors” — climate strategic decisions, capacity building and psychosocial involvement—, which have been further divided into 18 determinants and 53 corresponding indicators.</div><div>The development of this framework serves two primary purposes. Firstly, it aims to provide a comprehensive approach to explore the potential opportunities inherent in local governance for effectively driving climate policies. Secondly, it seeks to serve as a guiding tool for local governments in formulating and advancing their climate policies by utilizing the factors, determinants, and indicators incorporated within the conceptual framework. Lastly, the integration of the health perspective within this framework facilitates the identification and harnessing of synergies and benefits that can arise from the intersection of climate and health policies, emphasizing the importance of not neglecting this crucial aspect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101266,"journal":{"name":"Urban Governance","volume":"5 4","pages":"Pages 455-465"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145428934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.005
Intan Hapsari Surya Putri , Wiwandari Handayani , Fajar Agung Mulia , Jun Ichihara , Mega Anggraeni , Rukuh Setiadi , Sudarno Sudarno
Various studies have been conducted on the barriers to climate change adaptation in specific contexts, but they often focus only on particular sectors. This research aims to comprehensively assess the barriers to climate change adaptation across various stakeholder sectors at the city level. The case study in Semarang City is expected to provide insights for other cities, given that Semarang has extensive experiences in implementing climate change adaptation measures in Indonesia. The assessment of barriers is conducted through Focus Group Discussions and validated through in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders in Semarang City. Our findings indicate that sectors prioritizing water, coastal, and marine resources face lower barriers and challenges compared to non-priority sectors such as agriculture, health, and other related sectors. The highest barrier in non-priority sectors is the limited funding for climate change adaptation, as it is not prioritized or mandated. Meanwhile, the highest barrier in priority sectors is the lack of participation and concern from local communities regarding climate change programs. A transdisciplinary approach is offered to ensure mutual learning and knowledge exchange among various stakeholders to generate innovative, comprehensive, and sustainable climate change adaptation initiatives. Semarang’s experience in forming a "City Team" as a platform for exchanging ideas and knowledge provides evidence that such approach can be operationally viable.
{"title":"Examination of barriers to climate change adaptation: Experience from Semarang city, –Indonesia","authors":"Intan Hapsari Surya Putri , Wiwandari Handayani , Fajar Agung Mulia , Jun Ichihara , Mega Anggraeni , Rukuh Setiadi , Sudarno Sudarno","doi":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Various studies have been conducted on the barriers to climate change adaptation in specific contexts, but they often focus only on particular sectors. This research aims to comprehensively assess the barriers to climate change adaptation across various stakeholder sectors at the city level. The case study in Semarang City is expected to provide insights for other cities, given that Semarang has extensive experiences in implementing climate change adaptation measures in Indonesia. The assessment of barriers is conducted through Focus Group Discussions and validated through in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders in Semarang City. Our findings indicate that sectors prioritizing water, coastal, and marine resources face lower barriers and challenges compared to non-priority sectors such as agriculture, health, and other related sectors. The highest barrier in non-priority sectors is the limited funding for climate change adaptation, as it is not prioritized or mandated. Meanwhile, the highest barrier in priority sectors is the lack of participation and concern from local communities regarding climate change programs. A transdisciplinary approach is offered to ensure mutual learning and knowledge exchange among various stakeholders to generate innovative, comprehensive, and sustainable climate change adaptation initiatives. Semarang’s experience in forming a \"City Team\" as a platform for exchanging ideas and knowledge provides evidence that such approach can be operationally viable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101266,"journal":{"name":"Urban Governance","volume":"5 3","pages":"Pages 314-330"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145134850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2025.06.002
Achaab Peter-king Akanzerewai, Stephen Appiah Takyi, Owusu Amponsah, Donkor Ankrah
Urban sustainability has become a major focus in contemporary urban planning, particularly for capital cities that serve as economic, political, and cultural hubs. This study examines the sustainability of Ghana's major regional capitals of Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast. In this study, the researchers used the sustainable city framework to assess the cities' economic viability, ecological resilience, and social sustainability. Using the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (2018) framework, the researchers relied on secondary and spatial data to conduct the sustainability analysis. The secondary data used in this research include the national urban policy framework, census data from the Ghana Statistical Service, and development plans for the three cities. The key indicators used to assess the sustainability of the cities include economic indicators (employment, economic diversification), environmental indicators (land cover change, water sustainability), and social indicators (access to healthcare, education level, sanitation conditions). In terms of the ecological sustainability of Accra, the results of the study showed a rapid decrease in green areas in the city. The total area of green spaces decreased from 427.6 km2 in 2013 to 246.5 km2 in 2023, representing a percent decrease of 42.4 %. Overall, the social sustainability analysis shows that Accra has a strong educational infrastructure base, and this has contributed to its high literacy rates of 89.3 %. Cape Coast has a literacy rate of 89.7 % but has limited access to medical care, sanitation, and fiscal security. Based on the results of the study, the researchers recommend the need for city authorities adopt integrated city planning strategies to help address the sustainability issues identified. The researchers further recommend the adoption of emerging land-use planning strategies that will promote the sustainability of cities, such as smart city innovations. Finally, governance frameworks of cities in Ghana should be restructured to respond to the sustainable development needs of urban dwellers.
{"title":"Capital city functions and sustainable city nexus: Sustainability analysis of major regional capital cities in Ghana","authors":"Achaab Peter-king Akanzerewai, Stephen Appiah Takyi, Owusu Amponsah, Donkor Ankrah","doi":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.06.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.06.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban sustainability has become a major focus in contemporary urban planning, particularly for capital cities that serve as economic, political, and cultural hubs. This study examines the sustainability of Ghana's major regional capitals of Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast. In this study, the researchers used the sustainable city framework to assess the cities' economic viability, ecological resilience, and social sustainability. Using the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (2018) framework, the researchers relied on secondary and spatial data to conduct the sustainability analysis. The secondary data used in this research include the national urban policy framework, census data from the Ghana Statistical Service, and development plans for the three cities. The key indicators used to assess the sustainability of the cities include economic indicators (employment, economic diversification), environmental indicators (land cover change, water sustainability), and social indicators (access to healthcare, education level, sanitation conditions). In terms of the ecological sustainability of Accra, the results of the study showed a rapid decrease in green areas in the city. The total area of green spaces decreased from 427.6 km<sup>2</sup> in 2013 to 246.5 km<sup>2</sup> in 2023, representing a percent decrease of 42.4 %. Overall, the social sustainability analysis shows that Accra has a strong educational infrastructure base, and this has contributed to its high literacy rates of 89.3 %. Cape Coast has a literacy rate of 89.7 % but has limited access to medical care, sanitation, and fiscal security. Based on the results of the study, the researchers recommend the need for city authorities adopt integrated city planning strategies to help address the sustainability issues identified. The researchers further recommend the adoption of emerging land-use planning strategies that will promote the sustainability of cities, such as smart city innovations. Finally, governance frameworks of cities in Ghana should be restructured to respond to the sustainable development needs of urban dwellers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101266,"journal":{"name":"Urban Governance","volume":"5 3","pages":"Pages 372-385"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145134879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.003
David Batchelor
Urban design assessments are becoming more pivotal in planning across Aotearoa New Zealand, as applicants and local authorities utilise them to communicate the quality of spaces between buildings in medium and high-density developments. Applicants commission private sector urban design consultants to prepare these assessments and councils engage separate urban designers to review them, positioning urban design assessments as a fundamental medium for the urban design sector. However, the existing literature does not contain sufficient guidance for how these documents are to be structured and international guidance operates in distinct statutory planning environments. Therefore, this article presents evidence of the current industry model for urban design assessments across five cities in Aotearoa New Zealand and comments on how further guidance regarding forming a model document structure may benefit the sector. It follows the recent establishment of the Urban Designers Institute Aotearoa that seeks to establish educational and professional standards for urban designers in the country.
{"title":"Towards a model urban design assessment in Aotearoa New Zealand","authors":"David Batchelor","doi":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban design assessments are becoming more pivotal in planning across Aotearoa New Zealand, as applicants and local authorities utilise them to communicate the quality of spaces between buildings in medium and high-density developments. Applicants commission private sector urban design consultants to prepare these assessments and councils engage separate urban designers to review them, positioning urban design assessments as a fundamental medium for the urban design sector. However, the existing literature does not contain sufficient guidance for how these documents are to be structured and international guidance operates in distinct statutory planning environments. Therefore, this article presents evidence of the current industry model for urban design assessments across five cities in Aotearoa New Zealand and comments on how further guidance regarding forming a model document structure may benefit the sector. It follows the recent establishment of the Urban Designers Institute Aotearoa that seeks to establish educational and professional standards for urban designers in the country.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101266,"journal":{"name":"Urban Governance","volume":"5 3","pages":"Pages 404-410"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145134881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2025.06.004
Anwar F. Ibrahim , Mayas Nadim Ahmad Taha , Duha Dawood Hussain Shqeirat
According to Henri Lefebvre's theory, socially produced space results from the interaction between social representation and physical space. This socio-spatial interaction creates a new space that can shape the behavior of its users. Despite growing interest in socio-spatial dynamics, little research has explored how urban protests shape and are shaped by space, especially in cities such as Amman, with diverse social dynamics. Understanding this phenomenon is essential for addressing urban challenges such as spatial inequality and public participation.
This paper analyzes the interaction between urban space and social action during Amman's major protest activities to study the concept of space production in Amman, Jordan. Due to its fast urbanization and sociopolitical tensions with neighboring countries, Amman provides an ideal setting for researching the relationship between space and protests.
The study uses case studies of two main urban spaces: the Downtown area and the 4th Circle area. The paper employed qualitative and quantitative research methods. First, a coding method using MAXQDA was used to identify the different themes and patterns of behavior in space during protests. Second, Space Syntax was employed to calculate the connectivity and integration of the spaces identified in the previous stage. This study traces the three main moments in Henri Lefebvre's conceived, perceived, and lived spaces triad. The results suggest that social representations are inseparable from the features of the society in which they develop.
{"title":"The role of social representation in producing public spaces: Amman as a case study","authors":"Anwar F. Ibrahim , Mayas Nadim Ahmad Taha , Duha Dawood Hussain Shqeirat","doi":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>According to Henri Lefebvre's theory, socially produced space results from the interaction between social representation and physical space. This socio-spatial interaction creates a new space that can shape the behavior of its users. Despite growing interest in socio-spatial dynamics, little research has explored how urban protests shape and are shaped by space, especially in cities such as Amman, with diverse social dynamics. Understanding this phenomenon is essential for addressing urban challenges such as spatial inequality and public participation.</div><div>This paper analyzes the interaction between urban space and social action during Amman's major protest activities to study the concept of space production in Amman, Jordan. Due to its fast urbanization and sociopolitical tensions with neighboring countries, Amman provides an ideal setting for researching the relationship between space and protests.</div><div>The study uses case studies of two main urban spaces: the Downtown area and the 4th Circle area. The paper employed qualitative and quantitative research methods. First, a coding method using MAXQDA was used to identify the different themes and patterns of behavior in space during protests. Second, Space Syntax was employed to calculate the connectivity and integration of the spaces identified in the previous stage. This study traces the three main moments in Henri Lefebvre's conceived, perceived, and lived spaces triad. The results suggest that social representations are inseparable from the features of the society in which they develop.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101266,"journal":{"name":"Urban Governance","volume":"5 3","pages":"Pages 331-341"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145134878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2025.05.009
Amisha Thakur
Urban regeneration in Shimla, a rapidly urbanizing hill city in the Indian Himalayas, is closely linked to significant Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes between 1991 and 2021. This study employs GIS and remote sensing techniques to quantify these transformations and evaluates their ecological and socio-economic impacts, revealing extensive urban expansion at the cost of forests, open spaces, and agricultural lands, contributing to biodiversity loss, water scarcity, environmental degradation, and rising socio-economic disparities. Spatial analysis, including Moran's I and hotspot analysis, highlights a scattered pattern of regeneration without strong spatial clustering, emphasizing the need for strategic targeted interventions. Socio-economic assessments indicate emerging risks of gentrification and inequality, underscoring the necessity for inclusive, data-driven urban planning frameworks. The study recommends integrating sustainable land management practices, nature-based solutions, slope-sensitive zoning, and smart urban infrastructure, such as energy-efficient lighting, to enhance resilience. It also addresses technical limitations such as the need for higher-resolution data and improved classification methods. Shimla’s regeneration should balance modernization with ecological and cultural preservation, offering a replicable model for sustainable development in mountain cities globally. A holistic, inclusive, and adaptive framework that aligns urban development with environmental conservation and community wellbeing is essential.
{"title":"Sustainable urban policy development in hill cities: A case study of Shimla's LULC changes and urban regeneration efforts","authors":"Amisha Thakur","doi":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.05.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.05.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban regeneration in Shimla, a rapidly urbanizing hill city in the Indian Himalayas, is closely linked to significant Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes between 1991 and 2021. This study employs GIS and remote sensing techniques to quantify these transformations and evaluates their ecological and socio-economic impacts, revealing extensive urban expansion at the cost of forests, open spaces, and agricultural lands, contributing to biodiversity loss, water scarcity, environmental degradation, and rising socio-economic disparities. Spatial analysis, including Moran's I and hotspot analysis, highlights a scattered pattern of regeneration without strong spatial clustering, emphasizing the need for strategic targeted interventions. Socio-economic assessments indicate emerging risks of gentrification and inequality, underscoring the necessity for inclusive, data-driven urban planning frameworks. The study recommends integrating sustainable land management practices, nature-based solutions, slope-sensitive zoning, and smart urban infrastructure, such as energy-efficient lighting, to enhance resilience. It also addresses technical limitations such as the need for higher-resolution data and improved classification methods. Shimla’s regeneration should balance modernization with ecological and cultural preservation, offering a replicable model for sustainable development in mountain cities globally. A holistic, inclusive, and adaptive framework that aligns urban development with environmental conservation and community wellbeing is essential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101266,"journal":{"name":"Urban Governance","volume":"5 3","pages":"Pages 342-362"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145134882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2025.06.001
Yafang Wen, Rajib Shaw
Urban flooding, exacerbated by climate change, has become one of the most frequent and destructive urban climate-related disasters, posing severe threats to human life and property. While resilience theory has advanced in recent years, social resilience remains underexplored, particularly in the context of urban flood disasters. This study conducts a systematic literature review using the PRISMA framework to examine how social resilience is conceptualized, measured, and integrated into flood risk reduction. The findings reveal three major insights: (1) Existing research follows two main trends—framework development and factor analysis; (2) Social resilience is defined through both social entities and mechanisms, and it is conceptually distinct from community resilience; (3) Urban flood scenarios require specific assessment indicators, differing from those used in general disaster contexts. Based on these findings, we propose redefining social resilience from a flood-specific perspective; developing an independent assessment framework tailored to urban floods; and integrating flood-specific social indicators into urban risk governance. This study contributes to refining social resilience theory and offers a transferable framework that can also inform the management of other climate-induced disasters. By enhancing understanding and operationalization of social resilience, the research supports more effective and equitable disaster response in urban settings.
{"title":"Social resilience to urban floods: Reflections from existing knowledge and practice","authors":"Yafang Wen, Rajib Shaw","doi":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban flooding, exacerbated by climate change, has become one of the most frequent and destructive urban climate-related disasters, posing severe threats to human life and property. While resilience theory has advanced in recent years, social resilience remains underexplored, particularly in the context of urban flood disasters. This study conducts a systematic literature review using the PRISMA framework to examine how social resilience is conceptualized, measured, and integrated into flood risk reduction. The findings reveal three major insights: (1) Existing research follows two main trends—framework development and factor analysis; (2) Social resilience is defined through both social entities and mechanisms, and it is conceptually distinct from community resilience; (3) Urban flood scenarios require specific assessment indicators, differing from those used in general disaster contexts. Based on these findings, we propose redefining social resilience from a flood-specific perspective; developing an independent assessment framework tailored to urban floods; and integrating flood-specific social indicators into urban risk governance. This study contributes to refining social resilience theory and offers a transferable framework that can also inform the management of other climate-induced disasters. By enhancing understanding and operationalization of social resilience, the research supports more effective and equitable disaster response in urban settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101266,"journal":{"name":"Urban Governance","volume":"5 3","pages":"Pages 303-313"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145134877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ugj.2025.05.002
David Mensah Awadzie , David Kwashie Garr , Isidore Komla Zotoo , Mensah Marfo
Purpose
The main objective of this study was to examine the sustainability of budget deficits and public debt in the Ghanaian economy. This study utilised the GDP growth rate as an indicator of economic growth, functioning as the dependent variable. Public debt levels and budget deficits were identified as the principal independent variables, but government expenditure and revenue were included as control variables to mitigate their potential impact on the analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used annual time-series data from 1990 to 2021 for thirty-two years. This study employed dynamic OLS and ECM Models to examine the effects of budget deficits and public debt economic growth on long- and short-run relationships.
Findings
The results indicate that budget deficits and public debt negatively impact economic growth in the long run, but budget deficits are insignificant. This finding suggests that budget deficits and public debt are not sustainable over the long term. The results further reveal that budget deficits are sustainable in the short run relationship with economic growth, whereas public debt is not. Additionally, the results indicate that government expenditure and revenue negatively impact economic growth in the short-term.
Originality/Value
This study is the first to use intertemporal budget constraints to assess the Ghanaian economy's budget deficits and public debts. These results confirm Ghana's current economic status.
Practice Implications
The results will enable policymakers to review their debt management strategies to better distribute debt to profitable industries and activities while preventing inefficient use of resources.
{"title":"The sustainability of budget deficit and public debt on Ghanaian economy growth: The government intertemporal budget","authors":"David Mensah Awadzie , David Kwashie Garr , Isidore Komla Zotoo , Mensah Marfo","doi":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.05.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ugj.2025.05.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The main objective of this study was to examine the sustainability of budget deficits and public debt in the Ghanaian economy. This study utilised the GDP growth rate as an indicator of economic growth, functioning as the dependent variable. Public debt levels and budget deficits were identified as the principal independent variables, but government expenditure and revenue were included as control variables to mitigate their potential impact on the analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3><div>This study used annual time-series data from 1990 to 2021 for thirty-two years. This study employed dynamic OLS and ECM Models to examine the effects of budget deficits and public debt economic growth on long- and short-run relationships.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The results indicate that budget deficits and public debt negatively impact economic growth in the long run, but budget deficits are insignificant. This finding suggests that budget deficits and public debt are not sustainable over the long term. The results further reveal that budget deficits are sustainable in the short run relationship with economic growth, whereas public debt is not. Additionally, the results indicate that government expenditure and revenue negatively impact economic growth in the short-term.</div></div><div><h3>Originality/Value</h3><div>This study is the first to use intertemporal budget constraints to assess the Ghanaian economy's budget deficits and public debts. These results confirm Ghana's current economic status.</div></div><div><h3>Practice Implications</h3><div>The results will enable policymakers to review their debt management strategies to better distribute debt to profitable industries and activities while preventing inefficient use of resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101266,"journal":{"name":"Urban Governance","volume":"5 3","pages":"Pages 363-371"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145134849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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