Sustainable Urban Development in the European Arctic

Focusing on cities in the European Arctic, this book consolidates research on sustainable development, local and urban governance, and transnational cooperation in the region. It examines to what extent there is transnational cooperation between urban areas in remote locations and how it can be enhanced to better align with global sustainable development policies to successfully implement goals such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement. Based on field research in seven cities in the European Arctic, Rovaniemi, Kolari, Nuuk, Akureyri, Troms?, Kiruna, and Lule?, the authors explain why approaches to sustainable urban development differ between geographies, how policies relate to other local and global strategies, and to what degree the European Arctic is normative for remote regions at large. This book contributes to important conceptual debates on local governance and transnational cooperation by examining the benefits and potential issues of applying theoretical models of multi-actor engagement and participation in isolated populations. It argues that the participation of local actors in decision processes may encourage a better harmonisation of sustainable urban development approaches in the European Arctic and will have a greater impact at the global level if aligned transnationally. This book will be relevant to researchers, social scientists, policymakers, practitioners, and NGOs in the fields of global governance, sustainable development, sustainability research, and environmental studies.

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

"Up-to-date, comprehensive and highly relevant to scholars and students studying Arctic urbanism and governance. Urban and resource development projects in marginal communities under multiple pressures require new multi-actor and participatory governance that integrates international sustainable development mandates with local and Indigenous knowledge and perspectives while giving nature a voice. Cities and governments elsewhere should pay attention to what these Arctic cities learn."

Peter Hemmersam, Professor of Urbanism, The Oslo School of Architecture and Design

"This book serves as a powerful reminder that the challenges of transforming the urban Arctic are not as exotic or exceptional as they might seem. Instead, they closely mirror the struggles faced by other ordinary cities worldwide. The authors present an innovative perspective on multi-level governance for understanding local approaches to sustainability in the urban Arctic, offering valuable insights for planners and regional developers alike."

Agatino Rizzo, professor, Arctic five chair in architecture and planning at Lulea University of Technology

"Frequently contextualised at the margins of national peripheries or even as a resource frontier for European green transition, questions of sustainability loom large for many Arctic communities. With its focus on urban spaces in the European Arctic, this work provides insights into facilitating transitions from global policy to local implementation suggesting practical strategies for urban decision-makers tasked with implementing sustainability targets within their own unique challenges of climate and remoteness."

Corine Wood-Donnelly, Associate Professor of International Relations and the High North, Nord University

"Remote Arctic cities, like cities everywhere, face a difficult challenge in addressing the threat posed by climate change. This book examines the tools northern cities are using to cope with the crisis. The focus on participation and transnational cooperation distinguishes this work, ensuring that it is a valuable contribution to a growing literature."

Robert W. Orttung, George Washington University

"Sustainable development promises that all good things can be combined, if we just do it right - Globally and, hence, also in the Arctic. This volume takes the fragile conceptual marriage at its words: After examining the challenges facing remote urban centers (another oxymoron), the authors identify operational steps towards bridging the gap separating Arctic cities from global mainstream discourse."

Ulrik Pram Gad, senior researcher at Danish Institute for International Studies, co-editor of Politics of Sustainability in the Arctic (w. J Strandsbjerg, Routledge, 2019).