Multi-scalar governance for urban sustainability in resource constrained urban regions

Bold commitments to urban sustainability have been forged through recent international agreements (e.g. Sustainable Development Goals, New Urban Agenda, Paris Climate Agreement). A critical step in meeting these goals is translating them into locally relevant urban agendas. This 'localisation' process hinges on establishing the 'right' relationships between key actors – especially government actors - responsible for driving massive, complex and difficult urban transitions. This 'governance' work is not easy, especially in large fast-growing regions facing environmental resource crises, and where governance arrangements are intertwined with systems that lead to unsustainable outcomes.

This networking event focuses on the governance challenges and opportunities for localising global sustainability goals in large and complex urban regions. Various dimensions are explored including ideas for policies and plans, as well as the role of data, analysis and evidence in guiding decision making and action. This networking event focuses on the case of the Gauteng City-Region (GCR) and also draws insights from urban regions across Africa and the global South. The event will showcase:

1) New applied research undertaken by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) on complex cost/benefit choices between social justice and environmental sustainability outcomes;

2) Recent policy-support analysis on the governance of pollution, urban water-security, and green infrastructure;

3) An international partnership of researchers and government practitioners working at the intersection between scientific and policy knowledges. This partnership includes GCRO, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG), and UCL's City Leadership Laboratory/Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (UCL STEaPP);

4) New local policy initiatives (e.g. Green Infrastructure Strategy for Johannesburg);

5) Regional efforts by the GPG to localise the SDG's, led by the Premier of Gauteng as the co-Vice President of Metropolis; and

6) An ambitious long-term strategy to enhance knowledge at the policy-science interface through a 'Long-Range Ecological Study Site' for the GCR.