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Urban configurations of carbon neutrality: Insights from the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance

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  • Laura Tozer
  • Nicole Klenk

Abstract

This paper examines configurations of carbon neutrality in the building and energy sector as expressed in the urban governance documents of the members of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA). ‘Carbon neutrality’ is a mutable idea, which makes it unclear what kinds of future urban systems are imagined. As self-identified pioneers of deep decarbonization, the CNCA members are constructing ideas about what carbon neutral means and how urban systems should be changed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, climate governance policy documents provide a window to understand how these carbon neutral imaginaries are being constructed. The analysis draws on discourse analysis and textual network analysis to unpack the sociotechnical configurations that are planned to be mobilized to constitute carbon neutral built environments. Concept map visualizations are used to scrutinize planned configurations of objects (e.g. solar photovoltaics, district energy and energy efficiency technology) and policy instruments (e.g. energy use benchmarking and urban planning tools). The analysis shows three key building and energy configurations: (1) The District Energy City, (2) The Zero Net Energy City and (3) The Natural Gas Transition City. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that urban imaginaries of carbon neutrality are incorporating complex configurations of socio-technical objects while, at the same time, distinct socio-technical configurations are being favoured in individual places. These configurations inform socio-technical imaginaries that will continue to drive policy outcomes over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Tozer & Nicole Klenk, 2019. "Urban configurations of carbon neutrality: Insights from the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 37(3), pages 539-557, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:37:y:2019:i:3:p:539-557
    DOI: 10.1177/2399654418784949
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    Cited by:

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    2. Guofeng Wang & Rui Shi & Wei Cheng & Lihua Gao & Xiankai Huang, 2023. "Bibliometric Analysis for Carbon Neutrality with Hotspots, Frontiers, and Emerging Trends between 1991 and 2022," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-23, January.
    3. Goel, Pooja & Kumar, Aalok & Parayitam, Satyanarayana & Luthra, Sunil, 2023. "Understanding transport users' preferences for adopting electric vehicle based mobility for sustainable city: A moderated moderated-mediation model," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    4. Ziyu Duan & Seiyong Kim, 2023. "Progress in Research on Net-Zero-Carbon Cities: A Literature Review and Knowledge Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-27, August.
    5. Christina E. Hoicka & Jessica Conroy & Anna Berka, 2021. "Reconfiguring actors and infrastructure in city renewable energy transitions: a regional perspective," GEIST - Geography of Innovation and Sustainability Transitions 2021(06), GEIST Working Paper Series.
    6. Hoicka, Christina E. & Conroy, Jessica & Berka, Anna L., 2021. "Reconfiguring actors and infrastructure in city renewable energy transitions: A regional perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).

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