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What do we know about urban sustainability? A research synthesis and nonparametric assessment

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  • William L Swann

    (School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado Denver, USA)

  • Aaron Deslatte

Abstract

Urban sustainability has become a burgeoning practical and scholarly enterprise over the last two decades. Yet, there have been few attempts to systematically assess what cumulative knowledge this research is generating. We advance our understanding of urban sustainability by synthesising extant empirical findings to gauge progress made towards developing theoretical insight, and then testing a nonparametric predictive model that helps overcome methodological challenges in this literature. Drawing data from two national surveys of US local governments, we find that although organisational capacity appears to be the most important predictor, the broad range of activities grouped under the banner of ‘urban sustainability’ rely on distinct causal mechanisms, and use of composite models and measures of sustainability may hinder theoretical advancement. Implications for future research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • William L Swann & Aaron Deslatte, 2019. "What do we know about urban sustainability? A research synthesis and nonparametric assessment," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(9), pages 1729-1747, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:56:y:2019:i:9:p:1729-1747
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098018779713
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aaron Deslatte & Richard C. Feiock & Kathryn Wassel, 2017. "Urban Pressures and Innovations: Sustainability Commitment in the Face of Fragmentation and Inequality," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 34(5), pages 700-724, September.
    2. Fitzgerald, Joan, 2010. "Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195382761.
    3. Carolyn Kousky & Stephen H. Schneider, 2003. "Global climate policy: will cities lead the way?," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(4), pages 359-372, December.
    4. Aidan While & Andrew E. G. Jonas & David Gibbs, 2004. "The environment and the entrepreneurial city: searching for the urban ‘sustainability fix’ in Manchester and Leeds," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 549-569, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthew Berman & Robert W. Orttung, 2020. "Measuring Progress toward Urban Sustainability: Do Global Measures Work for Arctic Cities?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-15, May.
    2. Hyunjung Ji & Mark Patrick Tate, 2021. "Spillover effects of central cities on sustainability efforts in a metropolitan area," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(1), pages 95-121, March.
    3. Hyunjung Ji & Nicole Darnall, 2022. "How do external conditions affect the design of local governments' sustainability strategies?," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(3), pages 910-929, July.
    4. Helmke-Long, Laura & Carley, Sanya & Konisky, David M., 2022. "Municipal government adaptive capacity programs for vulnerable populations during the U.S. energy transition," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. Aurel Pera, 2020. "Assessing Sustainability Behavior and Environmental Performance of Urban Systems: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-19, September.

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