Building smart cities, the just way. A critical review of “smart” and “just” initiatives in Bristol, UK

Abstract

This article investigates the application of the "smart cities" and "urban 9 climate justice" concepts to two urban initiatives based in Bristol, UK. Both ideas are 10 increasingly popular in academic literature. Yet, little is known about their 11 understanding by the practitioners such as policymakers, third sector organisations 12 and citizens. Two case studies, a community-based energy efficiency initiative, and a 13 local authority electric vehicle policy were critically reviewed using discourse analysis. 14 The method helped to reveal the explicit, implied and obscured aims of the examined 15 initiatives. Using discourse analysis, the researchers developed a heuristic which 16 could improve traditional policy analysis approaches. The examination of case studies 17 illustrates how practitioners understand the notions of "urban climate justice" and 18 "smart cities" and whether their conceptualisations differ from those present in the 19 academic literature. Finally, the paper offers methodological suggestions for 20 embedding justice in "smart" initiatives at each stage of policy and project design.21 22 Keywords smart city/ urban policy / Bristol / climate justice / discourse analysis 23 24 West of England, Bristol City Council and Lloyd's Register Foundation, a charitable 26 foundation helping to protect life and property by supporting engineering-related 27 education, public engagement and application of research. 28 The funding sources were not involved in study design, data collection and analysis 29 of the data.30 31 Conflicts of interest: The research is part-funded by the Bristol City Council 32 33 Printing No need to use colour when printing 34 35 Abbreviations 36 EV-Electric Vehicles

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