Viability of Self-Governance in Community Energy Systems: Structuring an Approach for Assessment

This paper sets out to formulate a structured approach to assist in analyzing the viability of self-governance in community energy systems. Existing research in self-governance in the framework of socio-ecological systems provides a basis for analysis in applications concerning socio-technical systems, but more than a basis is needed. Although...

The Life of Tomorrow

Redefining Bangkok’s Inclusive Water-Based Society: Flood Resilience Planning of Adaptive and Performative Hybrid Infrastructure Network

Perception and relation of people towards water in Bangkok have changed through time, from a way of living to threat of lives. Growth of urbanization from adaptive water-based society to land-based mega-polis has led to a major shift of urban infrastructures changing lifestyle and perception of people. Water is currently perceived in form of...

Resilient Drinking Water Resources

A significant challenge for managers of drinking water infrastructures is to make effective strategic decisions for assets with a long lifetime in an uncertain and changing environment. Water resources, which are part of the drinking water infrastructures, have a special position in this decision making process as they operate at the...

Socio-ecological Cohesion: Bioregional Strategy ‘Beyond Growth’ for the Szczecin Functional Area, Poland

Climate changes, sixths mass extinction, use of naturalenvironment and extreme landscape transformation have beenbringing question of long, sustainable future. Broadly accepted‘growth paradigm’ has been reaching ecological limits on theplanetary level (Steffen et al., 2015). On the local level Szczecincity, with its rural region, localized in...

Changing Sacredscapes: A cultural approach for a sustainable Varanasi

Nature is unique on earth. Civilizations over time have defined various landscapes, some of which have been changed and some are in the process. Sacredscapes are one among those that have sustained over many centuries. The urbanization is in the process of transforming this sacred identity of many cities. But what is forgotten is beyond religion...

Asymmetries of Power: Adaptive spatial planning in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico

Unbalanced decision making processes, lack of planning scope and a market-driven development lead by high power interests have shaped the emergent Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico (MAVM) with an increasing spatial fragmentation and social segregation. To counteract the problematisation an adaptive planning framework is proposed linking...

Continuous Negotiation in Climate Adaptation: The Challenge of Co-Evolution for the Capability Approach to Justice

The capability approach is increasingly presented as a promising approach to address questions of justice in local climate adaptation. In an attempt to integrate environmental protections into the capability approach, Breena Holland developed the meta-capability Sustainable Ecological Capacity to establish substantive ecological limits. This...

Institutional form versus function in a common property context: The credibility thesis tested through an agent-based model

A key debate in the study on land, housing and natural resources revolves around the notion that general institutional forms (such as private, common, public, and likewise formal property rights) lead to a certain institutional performance (as may be expressed in terms of prices, transaction costs or sustainability). However, a modest, yet,...

Edges in transition: Spatial strategies for a regeneration of socio-ecological systems along the Vistula River

The proximity of rivers stimulated the development of the economy and culture of civilizations throughout the ages. Consequently, the advancements in technology allowed people to influence the riverine systems. In riparian areas, such as the Vistula River Delta, the river was regulated and the land was reclaimed to accommodate agriculture,...

Knowledge co-production for decision-making in human-natural systems under uncertainty

Decision-making under uncertainty is important for managing human-natural systems in a changing world. A major source of uncertainty is linked to the multi-actor settings of decisions with poorly understood values, complex relationships, and conflicting management approaches. Despite general agreement across disciplines on co-producing knowledge...

Permeating Socio-Ecological Walls: Addressing the Multi-Dimensional Inequality in the 'City of Walls' through Environmental Justice

Rapid urbanization, governmental neglect, socio-spatial segregation, and a widening societal gap has led to São Paulo’s nickname as the ‘City of Walls’ (Caldiera, 2000). These processes continue to shape the sprawling city today, contributing to the formation of a society characterized by multi-dimensional inequality and deeply isolated...

Exploring the Role of Networks in CPR Governance

In my thesis I was studying the interrelation between network topology and dynamics and the emergence and evolution of institutions for the governance of CPR. This research was intended to shed some light on what is the role of networks in formation of endogenous institutions and the possible insights for policy makers and users of CPR. To...

Predicting willingness to pay and implement different rooftop strategies to characterize social perception of climate change mitigation and adaptation

With the latest IPCC report, dramatic global climate action must be taken immediately to limit global warming to 1.5 °C, or face more frequent and extreme weather events with catastrophic implications. Cities must invest in climate resilience development; however, government policies are only effective if they are supported by the society in...

Water City Vienna - Transitioning Towards Climate Resiliency

This thesis project explores the imperative of strenghening Vienna's climate resilience through mitigating weather extremes and fostering knowledge of them by reimagining its current water and ecosystem dynamics. The central focus is on integrating a blue-green infrastructure into the urban environment and a just distribution of their services,...