Sustainability Managers: The Job Roles and Competencies of Building Sustainable Cities and Communities

Abstract

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Urban greenspace as a climate change adaptation strategy for subtropical Asian cities: A comparative study across cities in three countries

“…The five competence categories of this framework provide an organising structure for a much wider suite of competences identified in existing environmental literature. Setting goals, targets and outcomes through policy and leadership reflects competence in efficient use of space and the use of spatial planning ( Holtz et al, 2018 , Kerry et al, 2012 ); providing guidance by laying out a vision ( Holtz et al, 2018 , MacDonald et al, 2020 ); and linking action across scales ( Solís-Espallargas & Morón-Monge, 2020 ). Defining, developing and realising pathways brings together ability to ‘get things done’ and knowing how to act ( Wiek et al, 2011 , Kerry et al, 2012 , MacDonald et al, 2020 ); experimentation and social learning ( Holtz et al, 2018 ); political-strategic thinking to span multiple perspectives linking government and private sector actors ( Perez Salgado et al, 2018 ); and mobilisation and use of resources ( Holtz et al, 2018 , Solís-Espallargas and Morón-Monge, 2020 ).…”

“…Setting goals, targets and outcomes through policy and leadership reflects competence in efficient use of space and the use of spatial planning ( Holtz et al, 2018 , Kerry et al, 2012 ); providing guidance by laying out a vision ( Holtz et al, 2018 , MacDonald et al, 2020 ); and linking action across scales ( Solís-Espallargas & Morón-Monge, 2020 ). Defining, developing and realising pathways brings together ability to ‘get things done’ and knowing how to act ( Wiek et al, 2011 , Kerry et al, 2012 , MacDonald et al, 2020 ); experimentation and social learning ( Holtz et al, 2018 ); political-strategic thinking to span multiple perspectives linking government and private sector actors ( Perez Salgado et al, 2018 ); and mobilisation and use of resources ( Holtz et al, 2018 , Solís-Espallargas and Morón-Monge, 2020 ). Availability, synthesis and use of knowledge brings together linking knowledge systems ( Jacobsson & Karltorp, 2012 ); linking lived experience to scientific knowledge ( Perez Salgado et al, 2018 ); and possession of good knowledge as well as knowing how/when to call on expertise ( Kerry et al, 2012 , MacDonald et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Defining, developing and realising pathways brings together ability to ‘get things done’ and knowing how to act ( Wiek et al, 2011 , Kerry et al, 2012 , MacDonald et al, 2020 ); experimentation and social learning ( Holtz et al, 2018 ); political-strategic thinking to span multiple perspectives linking government and private sector actors ( Perez Salgado et al, 2018 ); and mobilisation and use of resources ( Holtz et al, 2018 , Solís-Espallargas and Morón-Monge, 2020 ). Availability, synthesis and use of knowledge brings together linking knowledge systems ( Jacobsson & Karltorp, 2012 ); linking lived experience to scientific knowledge ( Perez Salgado et al, 2018 ); and possession of good knowledge as well as knowing how/when to call on expertise ( Kerry et al, 2012 , MacDonald et al, 2020 ). Civil society collaboration (which we understand as collaboration with public and civil society actors rather than governments or developers) requires steering stakeholder diversity into common and shared positions ( Perez Salgado et al, 2018 ); supporting network-building ( Holtz et al, 2018 ); and understanding, comparing and critically evaluating different positions ( MacDonald et al, 2020 , Wiek et al, 2011 ).…”

“…Availability, synthesis and use of knowledge brings together linking knowledge systems ( Jacobsson & Karltorp, 2012 ); linking lived experience to scientific knowledge ( Perez Salgado et al, 2018 ); and possession of good knowledge as well as knowing how/when to call on expertise ( Kerry et al, 2012 , MacDonald et al, 2020 ). Civil society collaboration (which we understand as collaboration with public and civil society actors rather than governments or developers) requires steering stakeholder diversity into common and shared positions ( Perez Salgado et al, 2018 ); supporting network-building ( Holtz et al, 2018 ); and understanding, comparing and critically evaluating different positions ( MacDonald et al, 2020 , Wiek et al, 2011 ). Lastly, ethical and normative competence considers how social-ecological systems ought to be developed ( Wiek et al, 2011 ) and the practical application of ethical principles ( Perez Salgado et al, 2018 , Solís-Espallargas and Morón-Monge, 2020 ).…”

“…Goals, targets and outcomes through policy and leadership Spatial planning and efficient use of space ( Kerry et al, 2012 , Holtz et al, 2018 ) Policies, legislation and plans for (a) greenspace and (b) adaptation Policies and plans fundamental for setting out visions and how these will be realised across space, especially given move towards thinking of greenspace in terms of city-wide network delivering functions ( Gradinaru and Hersperger, 2019 ) Linking action across scales ( Solís-Espallargas & Morón-Monge, 2020 ) Mechanisms/ effectiveness of integrating across sectors Both ecosystem services and adaptation cut across sectors, hence need to mainstream across different areas of urban governance to realise fuller potential ( Dorst et al, 2019 , Wamsler et al, 2014 ) Mechanisms/ effectiveness of integrating across different levels, from national to local Municipal-level greening actions may be informed by national/regional-level legislation, and are contingent on local on-site actors for implementation ( Kabisch, 2015 ) Providing guidance by laying out a vision ( Holtz et al, 2018 , MacDonald et al, 2020 ) Presence of leadership and champions Leaders/champions vital to both set a vision for city-wide greening and put it into practice, given relatively novel concept of resilience through urban greening ( Newman, 2014 ) 2. Defining, developing and realising pathways from the present towards envisioned outcomes Political-strategic thinking to span multiple perspectives ( Perez Salgado et al, 2018 ; MacDonald et al, 2020 ) Rationales/justifications for greenspace provision Political and societal vision can inform planning approaches and the purpose/configuration of green spaces, reflecting state views of how nature ought to be governed ( Han, 2017 , Badiu et al, 2019 ) Linking of greenspace and adaptation with socio-economic development Connection to socio-economic development goals – especially poverty alleviation in developing countries – can transcend idea of greenspace preservation being opposed to development (Shih & Mabon, 2017) Experimentation and social learning ( Holtz et al, 2018 ); understanding broader global context ( Kerry et al, 2012 ) Opportunities for innovation, experimentation and learning As nature-based adaptation a new approach, experimentation valuable t...…”