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Eco-cities: the mainstreaming of urban sustainability – key characteristics and driving factors
Open accessAbstract
Efforts to innovate in urban sustainability have in recent decades culminated in a new phenomenon: eco-cities.In recognition of the key role played by cites both as the cause of, and potential solution to, global climate change and rapid urbanisation, the concept and practice of eco-cities have since the early 2000s gained global signifi cance and become increasingly mainstream in policy-making.This study provides an analysis of contemporary eco-city developments by systematically mapping some 79 recent initiatives at global level; evaluating key characteristics (including development type, phase and implementation mode) and discussing the factors (such as technological development, cultural branding, and political leadership) that drive and condition innovation in this area.The article concludes by outlining a research agenda for addressing both the challenges and opportunities of future eco-city governance.
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“Of importance to underscore here is that for many contemporary urban scholars, theorists, and planners, the adoption of the strategies through which sustainable urban forms can be achieved is necessary for achieving the required level of sustainability (e.g., [42, 62-64, 67, 141, 142]).”
From On the sustainability of smart and smarter cities in the era of big data: an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary literature review (2019) · cites this paper as [63]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Joss, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Westminster (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Joss, S.
- ORCID
- Joss, S.
- Venue
- International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning
- Published
- 2011-09-01
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 268-285
- ISSN
- 1743-7601 (ISSN-L)
- 1743-761X
- OpenAlex
- W1994317505
- Cited by
- 178
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 15.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning (publishedVersion)
- WestminsterResearch (University of Westminster) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Urban Studies › Smart Cities and Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Sustainable Design and Development
- Social Sciences › Urban Studies › Urban Planning and Governance
- Keywords
- sustainable cities, urban sustainability, urban governance, climate change mitigation, urbanization, policy mainstreaming, innovation drivers, political leadership, cultural branding, implementation modes
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