CLIMATE - NEUTRAL & SMART CITIES
Obiettivi formativi
The course is aimed at investigating aspects related to the emerging field of "Sustainable Smart Cities". The course will offer students the chance to learn through an enquiry-based, R&I perspective how to understand, design, and implement urban investment, policy, and legal tools that are often adopted by public authorities, private economic operators, and communities to co-develop and co-govern sustainable smart cities. The course will address the opportunities and challenges connected with sustainable smart cities from a legal, policy, political economy and cross-sectoral perspective: sustainable mobility; energy; real estate development and housing; innovation (data governance, IP law; tech transfer); environmental (waste and water management) and social infrastructure.
Risultati di apprendimento attesi
The aim of this course is to provide a complete basic knowledge of the relevant social and technical sciences concepts and techniques to become a consultant, a policymaker, a manager of sustainable smart cities projects. The course will offer key theoretical and practical tools to understand current trends affecting cities around the world, from the digitalization to climate change and overpopulation processes, their consequences in cities like the need to rethink urban infrastructures and services, real estate development and housing, cultural and social activities, to the new policy frontiers created by the technological and ecological transitions (data-driven development, urban tech and IoT for autonomous driving, urban forestation and farming, urban regeneration of old industrial or contaminated sites, etc). This course provides advanced knowledge and analytical resources that will enable students to understand the processes that are taking place in cities around the world, the policies that cities are developing in order to face local and global issues, their content and consequences, and the techniques adopted in cities to study and evaluate business and policy innovations, to write city investment plans, policies and EU grants proposals. The acquisition of this knowledge will be tested through a practical creation of an output during the lab sessions:
• examine concrete case studies of sustainable smart cities projects by conducting scientific research;
• look at how city governments shape, constrain or enable business and policymaking innovations;
• write a EU grants proposals for an urban project (e.g. European Urban Innovations - Innovative Actions, Horizon Europe, Urbact, etc.);
• write an Urban Policy (i.e. an urban investment plan; a city strategy; a regulation).
Making judgements:
We expect students to be able to analyze urban policies and projects to demonstrate an indepth, critical understanding of the scope and challenges of such policies and projects. They are expected to be able to discuss and evaluate key urban innovation projects and policies and to identify concrete solutions to challenges faced by cities and mayors around the world. Throughout the whole course, students will be invited to critically analyze the challenges that cities, entrepreneurs and mayors around the world are facing and their consequences, in order to understand which are the innovations to be adopted.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
The students will be able to understand the connections between global issues and local (city level) solutions and the interconnections between cities and their regional and national systems. Furthermore they will be invited to apply the results of their study by writing short reaction papers, as well as a writing collaborative project in the form of urban projects grants proposals or urban policies facing the above mentioned challenges.
Communications Skills:
This course will give the students the possibility to acquire and understand major terms and concepts in order to communicate their ideas, proposals, analysis and critical reasoning in the field of urban law and of the innovation in cities in the most effective and appropriate way. It will be also a way to test or develop their public speaking and writing capabilities.
Contenuti Del Corso
The course will first introduce students to the concept of sustainable smart cities from a technological, digital, climate neutrality and justice perspective (social; tech; climate justice). Then, it will address the most controversial features of sustainable smart cities governance in terms of IP production, innovation and tech-transfer processes, data protection and governance, real estate and urban development through the lenses of the most recent business and public policy innovations at EU, national, regional and local level. During the course particular emphasis will be given to the new ways of stewarding and managing the urban land, infrastructure, and services through co-governance, co-development, and co-planning tools. During the course, the student will work in groups to produce as an output the draft of an Horizon Europe “Climate-Neutral and Smart City City Contract” or an EUI-IA grant proposal for a specific EU (or associated country) city based on what they have learned.
Testi Di Riferimento
The course does not foresee one handbook or book. Every week and for every topic addressed, the course instructors will assign readings to the class. The readings will be posted on the learn.luiss platform.
Examples of potential readings are:
E. Glaeser, The Triumph of the City, 2011
S.R. Foster, C. Iaione, Co-Cities, 2022
Sean Fox, Tom Goodfellow, Cities and Development, 2016
S. Sassen, Global Cities, 1991
Metodologie Didattiche
The course will include research-based seminars/lectures on key topics in smart cities, plus lab sessions for group work.
Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento
Evaluation method: 20% attendance; 20% individual short reaction paper(s);
20% co-creation;
20% group work;
20% individual and group outputs' final discussion.
This course does not foresee mid-term exam.
Students that do not attend the course (i.e. Erasmus students or explicitly authorized students) will be evaluated through an empirically-based case study analysis conveyed in a paper of minimum 10k words. Students that do not attend the course are invited to send an email to the teaching staff at least 60 days before the exam session starting date, to define the topic, outline, research question and hypo, methodology, case studies for the paper. They are expected to attend at least 4 digital office hours to monitor progress.
Criteri per l’assegnazione dell’elaborato finale
Interest in the subject
Settimana 1
Introducing climate-neutral and smart cities as a an interdisciplinary concept. The first week gives a thorough description of the city as a governance, political, economic, and legal object (social sciences) and the city as a technological and earth/climate sciences object (hard sciences).
The different definitions and contexts of climate neutrality and smart cities are then elaborated upon while addressing the multi-dimensional features of smart cities in different urban contexts and according to experts. This week will provide an overview of different urban visions behind the concept of smart cities, including tech-based cities, eco-cities, sharing, and experimental cities. Cities worldwide are experimenting with policies that are inspired by alternative imaginaries of prosperity like sharing, commoning, degrowing. Very seldomly these imaginaries factor in the possibility of failure. Experimenting implies the probability of failure. We will explore also the failure of cities.
The first week will also be devoted to the explanation of the working method of the course. The week will also explain the outputs that students will present as a individual and group project work. The week will include examples and a practical demonstration of the empirical exercise that the students will carry out. The template and timeline of the exercises will be uploaded in the learn.luiss platform.
Settimana 2
Data Protection v. Data Governance, AI v. HI, IoT v. IoH: Tech Justice in the Sustainable Smart City. The objective of this class is that students familiarize themselves with data governance and its application to the smart city.
Indeed, as the "smart" in "smart city" inevitably involves the collection and processing of large quantities of data points, some of which classify as personal data from a legal perspective, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation constitutes a crucial starting point for anyone trying to understand smart cities in Europe.
Specific attention will be paid to the social, legal and ethical implications of AI and emerging technologies on fundamental rights of citizens, such as dignity, non-discrimination, safety, democracy and privacy. Cities Cybersecurity, Urban Data ownership and Digital Currencies will be part of the conversation.
In addition, the role of legal regulation (AI Act, data protection legislation, anti-discrimination law), soft-law instruments (codes of conduct, ethical principles) and civil society initiatives (human rights activists, citizen participation) will be discussed.
This part of the course will deal with different challenges posed by other smart cities technologies (e.g. AI, IoT, etc.), the possible solutions and the legal tools that can be adopted to deal with these challenges: collective cybersecurity, data ownership, civic data trust, rethinking the role that existing intermediaries can play as collective service providers.
Settimana 3
Cities or urban regions? Moving Towards Regionalism as a Mode of Inclusive Citizenship in Divided Societies.
This session will explore the concept of regionalism as a strategy for achieving climate neutrality in smart cities. Climate change challenges transcend city boundaries. Regional collaboration allows for a more comprehensive approach, addressing issues like shared resources (water, energy), transportation networks, and waste management. Climate change and smart city development can exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities. Regional planning can ensure that all communities within a region benefit from sustainability efforts.
Possible Discussion Points:
Advantages and disadvantages of a regional approach to climate action.
Examples of successful regional collaborations for sustainability initiatives.
Challenges of fostering cooperation between diverse cities and regions.
The role of regional governance structures in facilitating climate-neutral goals.
Regional collaboration can leverage smart city technologies like data sharing and interconnected infrastructure to optimise resource use and achieve climate neutrality across a larger geographical area.
Settimana 4
Environmental Justice v. Climate Justice in Land and Cities Development Towards Critical Environmental Justice Approach in Multicultural Divided States: Lessons from the Israeli Regulative System.
This topic delves into the complex relationship between environmental justice, climate justice, and urban development in multicultural societies facing social and ethnic divisions. It explores the potential shortcomings of traditional approaches and proposes a "critical environmental justice" framework.
The key concepts to focus on are environmental justice, climate justice, critical environmental justice and multicultural divided states.
To be discussed are: the fair and equitable treatment of all people with respect to environmental hazards and benefits. This includes equal access to a healthy environment and meaningful participation in decision-making processes, addressing the unequal impacts of climate change on different communities which often focuses on historical responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions and the need for support for vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by climate change, an expansion on traditional environmental justice by acknowledging the power dynamics and historical injustices that create uneven environmental burdens and an emphasis on the importance of social and cultural context in understanding environmental issues and finally a look at countries with diverse ethnic and racial populations facing social and economic inequalities and how divisions can influence environmental burdens are distributed and how communities access resources.
The Israeli Context as a Case Study
Relevance to the course of study: Climate-neutral and smart city development initiatives can have significant environmental and social implications. This topic explores how to ensure that these initiatives are implemented in a way that promotes environmental justice and climate justice, particularly in multicultural societies.
Settimana 5
Building on the concept of sustainable smart cities, which prioritizes both comfortable living and environmental sustainability, this course delves into the critical role of land use, real estate, and housing regulations in achieving these goals. This session will utilize Israel as a case study, examining its legal framework through two key aspects: how land acquisition and development are regulated in Israel. We will analyze how these regulations can be adapted to promote sustainable and equitable housing practices within smart city initiatives; the challenges of addressing historical housing injustices within a society facing social divisions. We will explore how these insights can inform the development of inclusive and just smart cities that address the needs of all residents. Israel's unique circumstances make it a compelling case study. The country is grappling with balancing diverse social and cultural needs within its housing policies, while simultaneously striving for sustainable development. By analyzing its legal framework and ongoing debates about housing justice, we can extract valuable lessons applicable to sustainable smart city development in multicultural contexts around the world.
Settimana 6
International organizations emphasize the importance of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) for achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This is particularly crucial for SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Without ensuring the participation of all relevant stakeholders, including diverse populations, this goal will remain elusive. Unmet goals can lead to negative externalities and pose significant challenges that require effective solutions. This week sessions will explore these issues through the lens of legal challenges faced by middle-class ethnic minorities in urban settings. Key areas of focus will include:
- how legal frameworks can unintentionally create barriers for ethnic minorities within cities;
- the phenomenon of "gated communities" and its impact on social inclusion;
- the roles of public and private actors in fostering inclusive urban spaces.
Privatization and Exclusion in the City can still take place. We will analyze the case of Associations for “Self-Construction” as Producers of Separated Spatial Enclaves. We will delve deeper on public participation in the Israeli Planning Law using Wadi Nisnas as a Test Case. The tools of Participation, Co-Governance, Self-Governance will receive a closer look, shedding light on the involvement of the Private sector, Individuals and Communities in building cities and co-owning, co-managing and co-stewarding cities.
Settimana 7
This week will focus on urban governance and sustainable finance discussing how effective governance structures (e.g., multi-stakeholder collaboration, citizen participation) are crucial for designing and implementing sustainable smart cities investment strategies. We will analyze how policies can incentivize sustainable investments and discourage environmentally harmful practices, enabling emerging technologies and sustainable smart infrastructure. We will explore how financing models can support the development and deployment of sustainable smart city technologies for clean energy, waste and water management, and sustainable transportation and agriculture, social equity and just transition. We will highlight the importance of integrating social equity and a just transition into urban governance and financing strategies and discuss how to ensure that climate-neutral and smart solutions are accessible and affordable for all citizens. Roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in urban governance (local governments, national governments, private sector, civil society), public-private-community partnerships and other innovative financing models for climate-neutral smart city projects (e.g., green bonds, carbon pricing, impact investing), community finance models (e.g., crowdfunding, local cooperatives) for empowering local communities, capacity building for local governments to attract and manage sustainable investments, policy and regulatory frameworks for promoting green, social, impact and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investments and ESG. Examples of successful urban governance and sustainable finance initiatives in different cities in the EU and around the world will be provided.
Settimana 8
Science and Technology can become drivers for development engaging innovators, scientists, and residents in R&I activities, collecting data, generating ideas, and contributing to climate-neutral smart solutions in their city. The intention is to get students to brainstorm and discuss tools and platforms that enable innovation, science, technology transfer, citizen science and analyze successful case studies of quintuple helix innovation models and community involvement in sustainable smart cities projects. This approach emphasizes fostering innovation across various sectors and initiatives to achieve a just sustainable smart city development, all while prioritizing the preservation of the ecosystems and species.
Settimana 9
This week will be dedicated to advancing with group work.
Settimana 10
Optimizing Resource Efficiency in Smart Cities: A Nexus Approach.
This broader topic would examine the interconnectedness of energy, water, waste, and agriculture in urban settings. It would explore how smart city technologies and planning strategies can optimize resource use and minimize environmental impact.
It will continue to study how to make renewable energy communities available and affordable to the most vulnerable parts of the world, especially some parts of Europe and Africa. For water, it will investigate more sustainable ways of how to utilize the abundant water bodies available to reduce water scarcity that is foreseen in a few years to come as well as address famine by designing programs and projects that the capacities of farmers, fishermen and agriculturists and how to build network with food scientists, crop scientists and others in universities to develop genetic yet healthy crops.
It will also include waste management and agricultural practices that are functional to sustainable smart cities management and development.
Settimana 11
This lecture consists of an analysis and discussion of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), solutions to urban and social challenges inspired and supported by nature: green roofs and walls, urban forests, alternative stormwater management systems, urban agriculture. They are cost- effective and at the same time provide numerous environmental, social and economic benefits, as well as helping to increase resilience.
Environmental resilience and adaptation to climate change are now based on Nature-Based Solutions: that is, on all those solutions that combine existing concepts such as green infrastructure, green-blue network, ecosystem services, natural capital, ecological engineering in an innovative way.
This is a new concept that has been in use for a few years now by the European Commission, which in a 2015 study first defined it as: "a useful tool to pursue objectives such as increasing the sustainability of urban systems, restoring degraded ecosystems, implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation, and improving risk management and implementing resilience".
For the EUCN (European Union for the Conservation of Nature), nature- based solutions are also actions to protect, manage or restore ecosystems in a sustainable way, which provide benefits for human well-being and biodiversity'.The class will further consider innovation IP and technology transfer since the importance of intellectual property in sustainable innovation is necessary, highlighting the need to balance the protection of rights with the promotion of open and shared access to innovations. This balance is crucial to stimulate research and development in key areas for sustainability.
Settimana 12
The last week of the course will dedicated to the finalization and possible presentation of the the group work (city contract - grants proposal) that the students have been working on throughout the semester.