Urban sustainability issues - Enabling resource-efficient cities

The report focuses on the factors contributing to complexity. It concludes that, first, resource efficiency has to become an overarching goal influencing all stages of the policy-making cycle and integrating all sectors. Second, cities have to work with a number of diverse actors and develop effective cooperation with municipalities beyond the limits of their jurisdiction.
Then the role of the different levels of government, from the European to the local level are presented. It is demonstrated that each level of government influences city policy-making, so that both top-down and bottom-up approaches are working at the same time at the urban level. Furthermore, synergies can be developed between the different levels.
Last, the report analyses transition management in cities. It describes how, in order to overcome the limitations of policy instruments that are often ill equipped to deal with the highly complex challenges and persistent problems without predefined solutions, city authorities develop explorative governance involving all of society. By defining a long-term vision with ambitious targets and encouraging participation, cutting-edge cities aim to change the ways in which stakeholders and civil society think and act.