Urban environmental protection international: stock-taking and outlook : final report

In: Texte 2021, 107

In: Ressortforschungsplan of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

Abstract

The aim of this study is to contribute to a process of learning about innovative and successful approaches to tackle problems and challenges of urban environmental protection. For this purpose, a detailed overview of the importance of environmental challenges, political priorities and successful solutions in selected countries and cities is provided. On this basis, the study analyses factors of success and it discusses, to what extent such success factors found in the case studies can be transferred to and replicated in other cities. Finally, recommendations are provided to cities, countries and the international community how to further strengthen environmental protection at the urban level. The role of German cities and institutions is discussed as well. The cases which are analysed are Belo Horizonte in Brazil, Moscow in Russia, Kochi in India, Beijing in China, Cape Town in South Africa and Jakarta in Indonesia. These cities were selected because they already implemented successful policies, measures and other initiatives in the past and the aim of this study is to find and discuss such successful activities. For each city, the study analyses the policy documents to describe challenges and political priorities. These documents are urban land-use plans (cross-sectoral), sectoral master plans as well as concrete urban policies and by-laws. The analysis aims to understand the effectiveness of the plans and instruments and also takes into account the national policy environment. Although taking a cross-sectoral perspective, the analyses each focus on certain sectors to receive in-depth results. The factors of success are deducted in a way the sectoral perspective can be opened up to a more holistic view about success factors.