Sustainable–Smart–Resilient–Low Carbon–Eco–Knowledge Cities; Making sense of a multitude of concepts promoting sustainable urbanization

de Martin Jong, Joss, S., Daan Schraven, Changjie Zhan and Weijnen Margot 2015. Sustainable–Smart–Resilient–Low Carbon–Eco–Knowledge Cities; Making sense of a multitude of concepts promoting sustainable urbanization. Journal of Cleaner Production. 109, pp. 25-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.004

TitleSustainable–Smart–Resilient–Low Carbon–Eco–Knowledge Cities; Making sense of a multitude of concepts promoting sustainable urbanization
Authorsde Martin Jong, Joss, S., Daan Schraven, Changjie Zhan and Weijnen Margot
Abstract

Over the last couple of decades, metropolitan areas around the world have been engaged in a multitude of initiatives aimed at upgrading urban infrastructure and services, with a view to creating better environmental, social and economic conditions and enhancing cities' attractiveness and competitiveness. Reflecting these developments, many new categories of 'cities' have entered the policy discourse: 'sustainable cities'; 'green cities'; 'digital cities'; 'smart cities'; intelligent cities'; 'information cities'; 'knowledge cities'; 'resilient cities'; 'eco-cities'; 'low carbon cities'; 'liveable cities'; and even combinations, such as 'low carbon eco-cities' and 'ubiquitous eco-cities’. In practice, these terms often appear to be used interchangeably by policy makers, planners and developers. However, the question arises whether these categories nevertheless each embody distinct conceptual perspectives, which would have implications for how they are understood theoretically and applied in policy. In response, this article investigates, through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis, how the twelve most frequent city categories are conceptualised individually and in relation to one another in the academic literature. We hypothesize that, notwithstanding some degree of overlap and cross-fertilization, in their essence the observed categories each harbour particular conceptual perspectives that render them distinctive. This is borne out by the findings, which demonstrate robustly for the first time the conceptual differences and interrelationships among twelve dominant city categories. The 'sustainable city' is the most frequently occurring category and, in a map of keyword co-occurrences, by far the largest and most interconnected node, linked closely to the 'eco-city' and 'green city' concepts. Recently, the more narrow concepts of 'low carbon city' and 'smart city' have been on the rise, judging by their frequency of occurrence in academic journals; the latter in particular appears to have become an increasingly dominant category of urban modernization policy. On their part, ‘resilient city’ and ‘knowledge city’ represent distinct concepts, albeit with comparatively low frequency. Overall, the findings point to the need for rigor and nuance in the use of these terms, not least if one wishes to comprehend their implications for urban development and regeneration policy and practice.

Keywordssustainable city, smart city, eco city, urban development, bibliometric analysis, ecological modernization
JournalJournal of Cleaner Production
Journal citation109, pp. 25-38
ISSN0959-6526
Year2015
PublisherElsevier
Accepted author manuscript
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.004
Web address (URL)http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.004
Publication dates
Published10 Feb 2015
Published16 Dec 2015

Related outputs

Prospects for Standardising Sustainable Urban Development
Joss, S. and Rydin, Y. 2018. Prospects for Standardising Sustainable Urban Development. in: Bell, S. and Morse, S. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Sustainability Indicators Abingdon, Oxon Routledge. pp. Chapter 24

Future Cities: Asserting Public Governance
Joss, S. 2018. Future Cities: Asserting Public Governance. Palgrave Communications. 4 (36) 36. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-018-0087-7

Explaining city branding practices in China’s three mega-city regions: The role of ecological modernization
De Jong, M., Chen, Y., Joss, S., Lu, H., Zhao, M., Yang, Q. and Zhang, C. 2018. Explaining city branding practices in China’s three mega-city regions: The role of ecological modernization. Journal of Cleaner Production. 179, pp. 527-543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.01.098

The smart city and Its publics: insights from across six UK cities
Cowley, R., Joss, S. and Dayot, Y. 2018. The smart city and Its publics: insights from across six UK cities. Urban Research & Practice. 11 (1), pp. 53-77. https://doi.org/10.1080/17535069.2017.1293150

Sustainable Cities in Asia; Preface
Joss, S. and Cowley, R. 2017. Sustainable Cities in Asia; Preface. Routledge.

Smart cities: towards a new citizenship regime? A discourse analysis of the British smart city standard
Joss, S., Cook, M. and Dayot, Y. 2017. Smart cities: towards a new citizenship regime? A discourse analysis of the British smart city standard. Journal of Urban Technology. 24 (4), pp. 29-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/10630732.2017.1336027

The New Urban Agenda: key opportunities and challenges for policy and practice
Caprotti, F., Cowley, R., Datta, A., Broto, V.C., Gao, E., Georgeson, L., Herrick, C., Odendaal, N. and Joss, S. 2017. The New Urban Agenda: key opportunities and challenges for policy and practice. Urban Research & Practice. 10 (3), pp. 367-378. https://doi.org/10.1080/17535069.2016.1275618

National Policies for Local Urban Sustainability: A New Governance Approach?
Joss, S. and Cowley, R. 2017. National Policies for Local Urban Sustainability: A New Governance Approach? in: Eames, M., Dixon, T., Hunt, M. and Lennan, S. (ed.) Retrofitting Cities for Tomorrow’s World London Wiley. pp. 227-245

Smart-Eco Cities in the UK 2016
Joss, S., Caprotti, F., Cowley, R. and Yu, L. 2016. Smart-Eco Cities in the UK 2016. Exeter University of Exeter (Smart Eco Cities Project).

Eco city development in China: addressing the policy implementation challenge
de Jong, M., Yu, C., Joss, S., Wennersten, R., Yu, L., Zhang, X. and Ma, X. 2016. Eco city development in China: addressing the policy implementation challenge. Journal of Cleaner Production. 134 (Part A), pp. 31-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.03.083

Tomorrow’s City Today: Prospects for Standardising Sustainable Urban Development
Joss, S., Cowley, R., de Martin Jong, Müller Bernhard, Park, B.S., Rees, W., Roseland, M., Rydin, Y., de Jong, M. and Mueller, B. 2015. Tomorrow’s City Today: Prospects for Standardising Sustainable Urban Development. London University of Westminster.

Eco-cities and Sustainable Urbanism
Joss, S. 2015. Eco-cities and Sustainable Urbanism. in: Wright James, D. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edition, Vol 6. Oxford Elsevier. pp. 829-837

Sustainable Cities: Governing for Urban Innovation
Joss, S. 2015. Sustainable Cities: Governing for Urban Innovation. London Palgrave Macmillan.

Adapting adaptation: the English eco-town initiative as governance process
Tomozeiu, D. and Joss, S. 2014. Adapting adaptation: the English eco-town initiative as governance process. Ecology and Society. 19 (2) 20. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-06411-190220

Rising to the challenge: public participation in sustainable urban development
Joss, S. 2014. Rising to the challenge: public participation in sustainable urban development. in: Hofmeister, W., Rueppel, P. and Lye, L.F. (ed.) Eco-cities: sharing European and Asian best practices and experiences Singapore Select Books. pp. 35-51

The eco-city as urban technology: perspectives on Caofeidian International Eco-City (China)
Joss, S. and Molella, A.P. 2013. The eco-city as urban technology: perspectives on Caofeidian International Eco-City (China). Journal of Urban Technology. 20 (1), pp. 115-137. https://doi.org/10.1080/10630732.2012.735411

Towards the ‘ubiquitous eco-city’: an analysis of the internationalisation of eco-city policy and practice
Joss, S., Cowley, R. and Tomozeiu, D. 2013. Towards the ‘ubiquitous eco-city’: an analysis of the internationalisation of eco-city policy and practice. Urban Research & Practice. 6 (1), pp. 54-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/17535069.2012.762216

Eco-city indicators: governance challenges
Joss, S., Tomozeiu, D. and Cowley, R. 2012. Eco-city indicators: governance challenges. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment. 155, pp. 109-120. https://doi.org/10.2495/SC120101

Eco-cities - a global survey 2011: eco-city profiles
Tomozeiu, D., Joss, S. and Cowley, R. 2011. Eco-cities - a global survey 2011: eco-city profiles. London University of Westminster.

Eco-city governance: a case study of Treasure Island and Sonoma Mountain Village
Joss, S. 2011. Eco-city governance: a case study of Treasure Island and Sonoma Mountain Village. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. 13 (4), pp. 331-348. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2011.611288

Eco-cities: the mainstreaming of urban sustainability; key characteristics and driving factors
Joss, S. 2011. Eco-cities: the mainstreaming of urban sustainability; key characteristics and driving factors. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. 6 (3), pp. 268-285.

Eco-cities: a global survey 2009
Joss, S. 2010. Eco-cities: a global survey 2009. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment. 129, pp. 239-250. https://doi.org/10.2495/SC100211

Accountable governance, accountable sustainability? A case study of accountability in the governance for sustainability
Joss, S. 2010. Accountable governance, accountable sustainability? A case study of accountability in the governance for sustainability. Environmental Policy & Governance. 20 (6), pp. 408-421. https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.559

Making technology accountable: citizens' conferences in the era of public accountability
Joss, S. 2009. Making technology accountable: citizens' conferences in the era of public accountability. Diacritica. 23 (2), pp. 299-316.

Eco-Cities: a preliminary survey and analysis of recent developments and initiatives
Joss, S. 2009. Eco-Cities: a preliminary survey and analysis of recent developments and initiatives. Eco-Cities Workshop. Lemelson Center 24 Mar 2009

Webs of accountability: the challenge of 'new governance'
Joss, S. 2008. Webs of accountability: the challenge of 'new governance'. Royal Geographical Society International Annual Conference 2008. London 27 - 29 Aug 2009

Public spheres pushing for change: participation in the governance of GM crops
Joss, S. 2007. Public spheres pushing for change: participation in the governance of GM crops. in: Taylor, I.E.P. (ed.) Genetically engineered crops: interim policies, uncertain legislation Binghampton Haworth Food & Agricultural Products Press. pp. 305-339

Lost in translation? Challenges for participatory governance of science and technology
Joss, S. 2005. Lost in translation? Challenges for participatory governance of science and technology. in: Bogner, A. and Torgersen, H. (ed.) Wozu experten?: Ambivalenzen der beziehung von wissenschaft und politik Wiesbaden, Germany Verlag fur Sozialwissenschaften. pp. 197-219

Between policy and politics. Or: whatever do weapons of mass destruction have to do with GM crops?: the UK's GM nation public debate as an example of participatory governance
Joss, S. 2005. Between policy and politics. Or: whatever do weapons of mass destruction have to do with GM crops?: the UK's GM nation public debate as an example of participatory governance. in: Maasen, S. and Weingart, P. (ed.) Democratization of expertise?: exploring novel forms of scientific advice in political decision-making Dordrecht, Netherlands Springer.

Zwischen politikberatung und offentlichkeitdiskurs: erfahrungen mit burgerkonferenzen in Europa
Joss, S. 2003. Zwischen politikberatung und offentlichkeitdiskurs: erfahrungen mit burgerkonferenzen in Europa. in: Schicktanz, S. and Naumann, J. (ed.) Burgerkonferenz: Streitfall Gendiagnostik: ein Modellprojekt der Burgerbeteiligung am bioethischen Diskurs Opladen, Germany Leske & Budrich. pp. 15-35

Towards the public sphere: reflections on the development of participatory technology assessment
Joss, S. 2002. Towards the public sphere: reflections on the development of participatory technology assessment. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society. 22 (3), pp. 220-231. https://doi.org/10.1177/02767602022003006

Assessing debate and participative technology assessment (ADAPTA): project no. BIO-CT98-0318: annex no. 1: the Denmark national report
Joss, S. and Kluver, L. 2001. Assessing debate and participative technology assessment (ADAPTA): project no. BIO-CT98-0318: annex no. 1: the Denmark national report. Grenoble, France University of Grenoble. https://doi.org/BIO-CT98-0138

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9617q/sustainable-smart-resilient-low-carbon-eco-knowledge-cities-making-sense-of-a-multitude-of-concepts-promoting-sustainable-urbanization


Share this

Usage statistics

929 total views
4994 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.