Transition Management in Urban Context. Chris Roorda 16 April 2015 Exchange event on supporting social innovation with the European Social Fund

Transcription

1 Transition Management in Urban Context Chris Roorda 16 April 2015 Exchange event on supporting social innovation with the European Social Fund

2 Mitigation in Urban Areas, Solutions for Innovative Cities 5 local governments search for pathways to a low carbon future Aberdeen Supported by two knowledge institutions: CRP Henri Tudor (LUX), DRIFT (NL) Ghent Montreuil Rotterdam Ludwigsburg

3 Outline 3 Transitional times Transition theory in a nutshell Transition management Experiences Reflection What s next?

4 TRANSITIONAL TIMES

5 Symptoms of unsustainability

6 The bigger picture Uit presentatie Louise Vet, WUR

7 The bigger picture

8 The bigger picture

9 Persistent problems Complex, long-term and uncertain o no quick fixes or only technological solutions Embedded in societal structures o persistence due to system failures deeply rooted in society o optimization through existing solutions insufficient Many different actors involved o contested and ill-structured Difficult to manage o regular policy aimed at incremental improvement transformative change is needed 9

10 Transitions? Fundamental change in culture, structure and practices at the level of a societal (sub)system culture: structure: practices: discourses, shared beliefs, values and perspectives, paradigms institutional, economic, physical, regulatory, implicit rules daily routines, behavior, action

11 Transitions? Transition System innovation Process innovation Product innovation Innovation cascade (Rotmans 2005) 11

12 Transition Dynamics multi-level Macro-level Autonomous trends, paradigms, slow changes Meso-level regime: dominant structure, culture and practices Micro-level niches: rapid changes; innovative ideas, projects, trends Geels and Kemp, 2001

13 Transition Dynamics multi-phase stabilisation reconfiguration enhanced lock-in predevelopment tipping phase decline Based on Rotmans et al, 2001

14 Transitions are about finding together new ways of thinking new ways of working new ways of planning new ways of organising new development pathways

15 TRANSITION MANAGEMENT

16 Transition Management - Basics You can NOT command and control transitions, but they can be triggered & accelerated transitions by playing into existing dynamics of change in society embracing complexity (Loorbach 2007; Rotmans, Kemp & van Asselt 2001) 16

17 Transition Management - Basics System innovation in incremental steps Take small but radical steps, guided by a long-term perspective Co-creation with change-agents Go beyond vested interests and stakes Social and institutional learning Take time for reflection & learning, this is essential for challenging paradigms and routines 17

18 Transition Management process Transition Team I Setting the scene Transition Arena Activating Orienting Monitoring & Reflection Transition networks Agenda setting

19 Central method in TM: Transition Arena protected setting with new connections to think & act beyond business-as-usual selective, involving ± 15 change-agents stakeholders diverse backgrounds and opinions policy, business, civil society complementary to regular policy (and also not to be confused with participation)

20 Complementary to regular policy not to be confused with participation or decision-making society Regular policy arena - Short term - Peloton - Incremental change - Problem- and goal oriented Transition arena - Long term - Change agents - System-innovation - Problem- and goal searching

21 Just to be sure: TM is not a cookbook a decision making process.a substitute for democratic processes an excuse for budget-cutting limited to bottom-up initiatives in your hands predictable an easy endeavor (fast > go alone, far > go together) 21

22 EXAMPLES

23 Case: Montreuil

24 Montreuil: Framing the challenge From original focus on climate mitigation broadening to all relevant domains of urban policy making: social cohesion, local economy, build environment, mobility, nature & agriculture, participation

25 Montreuil: Envisioning 3 main vision elements: Montreuil reinforces local democracy (démocratie locale) Montreuil decreases energy/goods consumption (sobre) Montreuil reinforces solidarity and social interactions (solidaire) 25

26 Agenda-setting & Getting into action From over 300 ideas to 7 Hands-on learning center on eco-renovation Fablab and School of transition Green and Living Roofs Mobile information center for eco-renovation Re-using vegetable cooking oil Applied research energy efficient territorial organization Further Spin off (synergy) Fablab Bicycle lessons for Roma children & repair shop La voie est libre 26

27 Engaging and anchoring Within the municipality: Networking within municipality is new and created a new way of working New committee is going to be set up for all sustainable development issues (aims to use the TM approach as a working method) New ties between different departments. Broadening: Launch event in June 2013 Fablab & MUSIC festival

28 With the arena we worked on the agenda, but at the same time we worked with the transition team to create space to reflect, to look at what has to change to realise the projects. The way of working of the municipality has to be modified and for that a space is needed to criticize and to turn the process against them. 28

29 Case: Rotterdam Carnisse

30 The case of Carnisse, Rotterdam 30

31 The other side of Carnisse 31

32 Exploring Powerful policy? Powerless policy? Participation fatigue Sphere of competition, frustration, suspicion, and uncertainty Focus on social sustainability issues Policy reality vs. lived experience

33 Framing challenges & envisioning Transition Arena Formation Whom and how would you invite for a participatory process? Selected participation: participants were selected on the basis of their interview Small-group work: out of about 40 interviewees, 15 people were selected for participation Frontrunners: people active in the neighbourhood; think of: primary school teacher, creative entrepreneur, welfare-professional, active residents Diversity: gender (slightly more males), age (30 70 years), ethnicity (mainly white Dutch)

34 Framing challenges & Envisioning Goal: Put developments into context & test problem description, collect feedback Develop future vision Explore individual needs and motivations 34

35 Framing challenges & Envisioning Outcome: Agreement on transition challenges for Carnisse as well as shared vision; resulting in Essay on transition challenges in Carnisse Blossoming Carnisse as vision for 2030 with 6 visionary images: (1) living together, (2) a green, sustainable oasis, (3) residential diversity, (4) local social economy, (5) places for everybody and (6) working together for blossoming

36 Reconnecting LT-ST & Engaging & Anchoring Goal: Enrich vision, develop pathways and develop ideas for further broadening and connection to ongoing activities

37 Reconnecting LT-ST & Engaging & Anchoring Outcome: Shared vision (document) Linkage of vision and individual priorities for the neighbourhood Pathways for each visionary image Ideas for connection to ongoing activites and task division

38 Reconnecting LT-ST & Engaging & Anchoring Official inhabitants forum planned BUT: on what? Presentation of Blossoming Carnisse Matching to existing initiatives and volunteer work Initiating new groups

39 Getting into action Arend en Zeemeeuw (AZ) is a community facility in Carnisse AZ offers a number of different facilities and rooms: coffee house, kitchen, rooms for sport, children, meeting rooms, which are/were used by primary school and welfare organisation AZ was closed December 31st, 2011 due to the bankruptcy of the welfare organisation Rotterdam-construction : the site is owned by the municipality of Rotterdam, the building? rented by surviving parts of the welfare organization: a kindergarten and a day care centre Interviewees were concerned about the developments

40 Getting into action Exploratory meeting AZ as symbol for the neighbourhood Starting of an action arena process experimenting (learning while doing) to reopen the community centre in a self-sufficient way Break through powerlessness, show commitment and responsibility

41 Getting into action Outcome until now: Involvement of different stakeholders: going into the same direction Involvement with inhabitants forum Business plan drawn up 4 Subgroups working on financial questions, stocktaking volunteers, management construction, sticktaking practical daily tasks (Re)opening of community centre

42 Case: Arena process in Ghent Arena impulse concentrated in 2011 With transition team (5 members): 4 months of preparation With transition arena (17 members): 7 months (6 meetings) from analysis to vision to agenda. Launch at Climate Forum, 22/11/2011

43 Ghent: Setting the Scene Electoral pressure Climate team within municipality with mandate Willingness to work with TM (already embraced) Gent s Klimaatbond (Climate Alliance): High ambitions but how to realize? Participation is more than communication

44 Example Ghent: From understanding the current system to vision images Emerging niches Ghent, great place to live Locally creating added value Energetic city, intelligent cycles Ghentenaar home in the city

45 Ghent: Climate arena triggers action... CWG Art Sector CWG Valorisation waste water and biodegradables 20 cultural organizations Research biogas from biodegr. CEIP meets GMS 938 mobbers CWG consumer pusher market Inspiration to political parties Climate arena CWG mobility Mobility arena Support for SMEs Assessment of potential for ESCO s Transition University Ghent CWG Urban Farming CWG Energy Efficiency in business KWG UGent

46 Leefstraat Ghent before/after Wasstraat (Sint-Amandsberg) during

47 Leefstraat Ghent Part of transition agenda: Bike of Troy (by informal innovation network) Streets for people, not for cars Idea does not yet have support -> make it smaller & temporally

48 Leefstraat Ghent Joining forces: top-down & bottom-up; people from many backgrounds Taking off 2 streets in 2013, 10 in 2014, 30+(?) in 2015 (all voluntary) Influences thinking about mobility & spatial planning

49 REFLECTION

50 Participants Some Quotes from Arena Participants Most valuable was the dynamic atmosphere of people who want to be the change I learned a lot thanks to the different backgrounds We built mutual trust, we showed openness and respect City officers I was amazed how much vigor such a group can have I realized how little I knew of what is going on in my own hometown This helps to get climate neutrality on the agenda in every department 50

51 Overall outcomes of Transition Management Guiding perspective Impulse Empowerment

52 Overall outcomes of Transition Management A guiding perspective sense of direction regarding the fundamental changes needed to reach a sustainable future; better understanding of the complexity and societal context of low-carbon ambitions; helps to close the gap between knowing and doing

53 Overall outcomes of Transition Management An impulse for moving towards a more sustainable future. Spin-off activities emerge as seeds of change that allow a variety of actors to contribute towards the guiding perspective. Encouraging and clustering initiatives and innovations, Enhancing and possibly re-orienting initiatives intended to contribute to this future.

54 Overall outcomes of Transition Management Empowerment enabling actors in the city to more effectively foster a transition towards a sustainable future. Various actors explore & take on (new) roles; Enabling policy makers to play much more into the city s existing dynamics; you are not doing it alone anymore as a local government;

55 Keep thinking and balancing support <> innovation space out of comfort zone <> ownership joint process <> group thinking pace <> depth 55

56 Evaluation: outlook What s next? Continuing to play into societal dynamics (MUSIC was starting point) create space for new developments strengthening initiatives that contribute to guiding perspective challenging actors to take part in the transition. Question of mental space can partner cities generate space to get out of the comfort zone, also without such European project? same for new cities 56

57 Outlook: research Current research ARTS project: TRANSIT project:

58 Thank you for your attention For more information and publications: