Showing papers in "European Planning Studies in 2012"
TL;DR: In recent years, governments across the globe have developed plans for a Green New Deal to curb a combined economic and ecological crisis as mentioned in this paper, and broad societal and industrial transformations should lead...
Abstract: In recent years, governments across the globe have developed plans for a Green New Deal to curb a combined economic and ecological crisis. Broad societal and industrial transformations should lead ...
260 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the role of spatial dimensions in the transformation of socio-technical regimes, in particular the energy system, towards more sustainable configurations, and develop their considerations around the case of an energy region in Austria where people try to bring about a substantive shift in their local energy supply structure and have the ambition to contribute to a general transition towards sustainable energy systems.
Abstract: Which role do spatial dimensions play in the transformation of socio-technical regimes, in particular the energy system, towards more sustainable configurations? Concepts such as the multi-level perspective on socio-technical change have not given sufficient attention to space and place so far. We develop our considerations around the case of an “Energy Region” in Austria where people try to bring about a substantive shift in their “local” energy supply structure and have the ambition to contribute to a “general” transition towards sustainable energy systems. However, if this ambition is to stand the test of reality, what are the mechanisms and processes through which regional governance can have a broader impact on the transition of the energy system? What are the resources it can draw upon? What are the linkages with other governance levels? We investigate in detail how one regional showcase for the feasibility of a non-fossil, sustainable energy system was set up in Murau, a remote, alpine district of ...
255 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a hybrid socio-economic theory is proposed that examines the contributions of intelligent agents to the creation of new technological pathways in conditions of path dependence and explains the processes by which agents may collectively contribute to the emergence of new technologies and overcome the barriers confronting them as a result of the evolution of historical forces that establish the pathdependent trajectories of contemporary technologies.
Abstract: In this paper, it is argued that in order to overcome the limitations of canonical path dependence and new path creation theories that arise from the different ontological approaches of economics and sociology, a hybrid socio-economic theory is required that examines the contributions of intelligent agents to the creation of new technological pathways in conditions of path dependence. The main aim of such a theory is to explain the processes by which agents may collectively contribute to the emergence of new technological pathways and overcome the barriers confronting them as a result of the evolution of historical forces that establish the path-dependent trajectories of contemporary technologies. The arguments are illustrated empirically by analysing the roles of inventors and innovation pioneers located in economic niches together with the diffusion of new technologies to the attainment of critical mass and the creation of new pathways. The roles and processes engaged in by such actors, and the path-dep...
232 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a conceptual framework for analysing the spatial characteristics of market formation processes in emerging technological innovation systems, thus proposing a shared field of research for economic geographers and transition scholars.
Abstract: Sustainable transitions in the energy sector have gained only insufficient attention in economic geography so far. Conversely, transition scholars do not pay sufficient attention to the spatial dimension of these dynamics. This paper introduces a conceptual framework for analysing the spatial characteristics of market formation processes in emerging technological innovation systems, thus proposing a shared field of research for economic geographers and transition scholars. Drawing on a social constructivist analysis of market formation processes, we propose to differentiate “market formation” into three sub-processes for which we additionally specify spatial characteristics: (1) the formation of market segments, (2) market transactions and (3) end-user profiles. We apply this conceptual and explanatory framework to explain the uneven geography of photovoltaic market formation in Germany, the current world market leader in this field. By analysing the role of local solar initiatives in shaping and supporti...
221 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the ways in which space and place shape cumulative and combinatorial knowledge dynamics by proximity economies and the institutional embeddedness of actors and in turn reshape territory and territorial configurations of actors.
Abstract: The changing nature of innovation processes is a significant feature of the global structural transformation towards knowledge economies. Much more than in the past, innovation processes require the integration of highly specialized knowledge bases distributed over heterogeneous actors. Hence, we claim that there is a hidden qualitative shift in knowledge dynamics towards combinatorial knowledge. The geography of these knowledge dynamics on the micro-level is at the centre of this article. It explores the ways in which space and place shape cumulative and combinatorial knowledge dynamics by proximity economies and the institutional embeddedness of actors and in turn reshape territory and territorial configurations of actors. Knowing more about these interrelations may provide an improved basis for regional policy-making regarding the reform of established institutions and practices.
168 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the organizational contexts constituted for such a purpose and ask fundamental questions about whose priorities are being advocated, where and how this is organized and what the implications of this are for forms of urban transition.
Abstract: Increasingly at the scale of cities, strategies and plans to respond to the challenges of climate change and constrained resources are being developed. A range of climate change plans, low-carbon strategies, peak oil preparations and so on have been developed, often with ambitious aspirations. At the same time, new and reconstituted “intermediary” organizational forms are working between the priorities of these plans and the contexts of their “application”. This is the movement between the “what” of the plans, strategies and preparations and the priorities they embody and the “how” of attempts at their accomplishment. Drawing on research in Greater Manchester, in this paper we examine the organizational contexts constituted for such a purpose and ask fundamental questions about whose priorities are being advocated, where and how this is organized and what the implications of this are for forms of urban transition.
168 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe some of the mitigation and adaptation entry points and challenges for city-relevant planning and policy-making posed by the processes defining urban greenhouse gas emissions, vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities.
Abstract: Urban centres play a crucial role in managing global carbon emissions (mitigation) and reducing vulnerability to climate change (adaptation). This paper describes some of the mitigation and adaptation entry points and challenges for city-relevant planning and policy-making posed by the processes defining urban greenhouse gas emissions, vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities. It finds that although many cities are already responding to the climate challenge, existing initiatives are fragmented and a piecemeal rather than a strategic approach is very common. Frequently mitigation and adaptation responses do not address many of the key drivers and determinants involved (e.g. consumption patterns and equity issues determining differentiated access to the determinants of adaptive capacity), nor do they fit with the issues they are intended to address. This is so because climate responses and the issues they are intended to address are multi-scale in nature because most of the processes involved operate at mul...
163 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors employ path creation as a lens to follow the emergence of the Danish wind turbine cluster and conclude that public policy to catalyse clusters cannot be based on an assumption that linear learning dynamics will unfold.
Abstract: This paper employs path creation as a lens to follow the emergence of the Danish wind turbine cluster. Supplier competencies, regulations, user preferences and a market for wind power did not pre-exist; all had to emerge in a tranformative manner involving multiple actors and artefacts. Competencies emerged through processes and mechanisms such as co-creation that implicated multiple learning processes. The process was not an orderly linear one as emergent contingencies influenced the learning processes. An implication is that public policy to catalyse clusters cannot be based on an assumption that linear learning dynamics will unfold.
147 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the potential contribution of UK regions for developing and deploying renewable energy technologies to achieve the government target of obtaining 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 is examined.
Abstract: This paper examines the potential contribution of UK regions for developing and deploying renewable energy technologies to achieve the government target of obtaining 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. The paper argues for a multi-scalar approach to energy transition theory and policy. National-scale processes and policies need to be complemented by regional and local policies in order to discover and incorporate meso-level sources of renewable energy, recognize that niche or path creation is a geographically localized process and mobilize heterogeneous, local actors around common “regional energy visions” to improve implementation of renewable energy projects. After critically reviewing the main theoretical approach to energy transitions, the multi-level perspective, the paper employs patent data to describe the comparative position of UK regions in the renewable energy sector and examines the success of Danish, German and Spanish regions resulting from strong government intervention at the...
135 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the theoretical, empirical, research methodological and policy implications of a recently introduced knowledge taxonomy, the so-called Differentiated Knowledge Bases model, which distinguishes between three epistemologically different approaches that are summarized in the notions of analytical (theoretically understanding), synthetic (instrumentally solving problems) and symbolic (culturally creating meanings).
Abstract: On the basis of existing literature and newly collected empirical evidence this article discusses the theoretical, empirical, research methodological and policy implications of a recently introduced knowledge taxonomy, the so-called Differentiated Knowledge Bases model (Asheim et al., 2011), which distinguishes between three epistemologically different approaches that are summarized in the notions of analytical (theoretically understanding), synthetic (instrumentally solving problems) and symbolic (culturally creating meanings). The article suggests that these differentiated knowledge bases, though ideal-typical constructs, seem applicable to micro-level, intra- or inter-organizational modes and communities of learning involved in firm innovation but that firms and meso- and macro-level social systems (sectors, clusters, regions, etc.) rarely rely on one single knowledge base but coordinate its actions in more learning modes and communities. The potentials for innovation research of this particular knowle...
114 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the relationship between the degree of regional polycentricity and the key economic variables of performance, namely competitiveness, social cohesion and environmental sustainability, by comparing functional and morphological methods.
Abstract: Polycentric development is a widely-used term both in academic research and in the normative agenda. However, its theoretical foundations and economic implications are still unknown and the concept of polycentricity still does not have a shared definition, or a shared measurement method. The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly polycentricity is defined and measured at a NUTS 2 regional level, by comparing functional and morphological methods. Secondly, in the light of the role assigned to polycentric development in terms of policy, the paper investigates the relationships between the degree of regional polycentricity and the key economic variables of performance – namely competitiveness, social cohesion and environmental sustainability. The main finding was that functional and morphological methods led to similar results. In addition, a correlation was found between polycentricity and a more unequal income distribution and a higher level of productivity, especially when polycentricity was measured in functional terms. No stable correlations were found between polycentricity and measures of environmental sustainability, such as land consumption and greenhouse emissions.
TL;DR: The authors highlights the role of political-normative ideas of metropolization and societal relations within this complex core-periphery process, elaborating on the concept of peripheralization and calling for further research.
Abstract: Since around 2000, there has been extensive research on questions regarding shrinkage and urban renewal in Germany after a task force report revealed approximately 1.4 million vacant flats in East Germany. Since then, most towns and cities have been labelled “shrinking cities” there. While from a planning perspective urban decline and also shrinking cities are widely studied phenomena throughout the industrialized world and a substantial literature exists on the phenomenon in Germany, the impact of political debates and normative considerations is under-researched. This paper highlights the role of political–normative ideas of metropolization and societal relations within this complex core–periphery process, elaborating on the concept of peripheralization and calling for further research.
TL;DR: In this paper, a multidisciplinary approach, based on cultural and creative economics, evolutionary geography and urban economics, was used to analyse the forces behind the clustering of employment in creative industries in a comparative analysis of Italy and Spain.
Abstract: Creative industries and creative employment tend to concentrate around medium and large cities, forming creative local systems. We follow a multidisciplinary approach, based on cultural and creative economics, evolutionary geography and urban economics, in order to analyse the forces behind the clustering of employment in creative industries in a comparative analysis of Italy and Spain. The results show different patterns of clustering of creative employment in both countries. The historical and cultural endowments, the average size of creative industries, the size of the place, the productive diversity, and the concentration of human capital and creative class have been determined to be common factors leading to a concentration of creative firms and creative employment in both countries.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the existence of regional agglomerations of manufacturing, service and creative industries, the relationship between these industries and the wealth of regions and their industrial structure.
Abstract: This paper examines the existence of regional agglomerations of manufacturing, service and creative industries, the relationship between these industries and the wealth of regions and their industrial structure. Through an analysis of 250 European regions, three important conclusions can be inferred from the results obtained in this paper. The first is that creative industries play an important role in the wealth of a region. The second is that the most creative regions are characterized by having more high-tech manufacturing industries than the rest of the regions although the number of low-tech manufacturing firms is similar. Lastly, the industrial structure of each region has a greater influence on regional wealth than the existence of industrial agglomerations. The importance of this paper resides in the fact that up until now no analysis has demonstrated that creative industries are the most important industries in regional wealth.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed whether the new industrial path of offshore wind energy emerged out of existing paths, mainly shipbuilding, in the five states of coastal Germany, namely Bremen, Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Abstract: Wind energy-related employment has been surging recently in Germany: it rose from 9200 in 1997 to 90,000 in 2007 and is estimated to be 112,000 in 2020. The industry particularly emerged in coastal, Northern Germany. Recently, big hopes have been particularly set on the offshore wind energy industry. Two recently discussed evolutionary concepts explain the emergence of new industries, such as wind energy, in space: the windows of locational opportunity concept stresses the locational freedom in the earliest stages of industrial development, whereas path creation emphasizes the role of existing industrial development paths, such as shipbuilding, from which new industrial paths, such as wind energy, emerge. This paper aims at analysing whether the new industrial path of offshore wind energy emerged out of existing paths, mainly shipbuilding, in the five states of coastal Germany, namely Bremen, Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It concludes that shipbuilding only indirect...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the return to infrastructure in the European Union regions in a spatial framework and identified the highest rates of return as associated with telecommunication, quality and accessibility of transportation networks, with a positive impact of roads and railways.
Abstract: This paper examines the return to infrastructure in the European Union regions in a spatial framework. It innovates on the earlier literature on infrastructure and growth by a combination of regional focus, disaggregation of infrastructure types and consideration of spatial dependence. Different types of infrastructure capital are considered as determinants of economic performance at the Nomenclature des Unites Territoriales Statistiques level. To account for growth spillovers among regions, a spatial Durbin model is estimated. The results confirm the important role of infrastructure and identify the highest rates of return as associated with telecommunication, quality and accessibility of transportation networks, with a positive impact of roads and railways.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the contribution of evolutionary economic geography to thinking about branching from path dependence and the creation of new paths, and provide evidence for key generic spatial processes of path transition.
Abstract: Since Paul David first published his economic histories of path-dependent innovation, the subject has exerted fascination upon scholars of innovation and technological change and, latterly, regional scientists and economic geographers. This paper speaks of the third and fourth of these communities in the main, though it may have theoretical and empirical elements of interest to the first two as well. It begins with an overview of recent perspectives and critiques concerning the relevance of the path dependence concept to the understanding of regional economic development and its associated governance. It then goes on to discuss the contribution of evolutionary economic geography to thinking about “branching” from path dependence and the creation of new paths. Evidence for key generic spatial processes of path transition is provided before the main content of the paper concludes with new insights into the contributions of regional innovation policy to path evolution. Conclusions are then drawn.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyse the mechanisms through which green urban transport policies indirectly foster the localized development of cleantech innovations, and they ground their analysis on the experiences of three cities active in Green Urban Transport Policies (GUTP): Curitiba (Brazil), Goteborg (Sweden) and Hamburg (Germany).
Abstract: Facing climate change challenges, many local governments worldwide became active deploying green urban transport policies (GUTP). By doing so, their central objective was to curb CO2 emissions and manage the latent tension between accessibility, mobility and quality of life. However, in some cases, those policies indirectly foster the localized development of cleantech innovations. In this paper, we analyse in-depth the mechanisms through which this phenomenon takes place. Combining literatures from innovation studies and economic geography, we ground our analysis on the experiences of three cities active in GUTP: Curitiba (Brazil), Goteborg (Sweden) and Hamburg (Germany). We start by framing the emergence and development of GUTP within a co-evolutionary context. Subsequently, for each case, we decompose the relevance of GUTP in providing a mix of incentives to cleantech innovation processes: (i) levering technological exploration; (ii) providing room for experimentation and testing and (iii) creating gro...
TL;DR: Norrkoping, a small urban area formerly dependent upon old labour-intensive industries, has developed a knowledge-based renewal strategy inspired by ideas emanating from its superseded local economy as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Norrkoping, a small urban area formerly dependent upon old labour-intensive industries, has developed a knowledge-based renewal strategy inspired by ideas emanating from its superseded local econom ...
TL;DR: In this article, the role of path-dependent and past-dependent forces in the historical trajectory of industrial clusters is evaluated, considering factors related to both cluster dynamics and the regional environment, showing that the existence of a life cycle does not imply a straightforward growth path.
Abstract: In this study, we aim at evaluating the role of path-dependent and past-dependent forces in the historical trajectory of clusters. For that purpose, we study the life cycles of four of the main industrial clusters in the Basque Country (paper-making, electronics and information and communication technology, maritime industries and aeronautics) and analyse the factors that account for the origin, development, maturity and, if so, decline of those clusters, considering factors related to both cluster dynamics and the regional environment. Our analysis shows that the existence of a life cycle does not imply a straightforward growth path. Clusters follow multiple growth patterns in their development. The heterogeneity of growth patterns may be, in some cases, due to different initial conditions. However, despite similar initial conditions and/or resource endowments and opportunities for development, we can observe heterogeneous evolutionary patterns. Clusters react differently to the same external shocks (e.g...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors give an overview and systematic characterization of different national approaches to developing strategies of climate change adaptation from a spatial planning or regional development perspective, respectively, based on this analysis, recommendations are made for the implementation of the Territorial Agenda of the European Union.
Abstract: The aim of this article is to give an overview and systematic characterization of different national approaches to developing strategies of climate change adaptation from a spatial planning or regional development perspective, respectively. Based on this analysis, recommendations are made for the implementation of the Territorial Agenda of the European Union. The central research hypotheses addressed in this article are: (1) climate change impacts in Europe are distributed differently in European regions which influence the design of national adaptation strategies (NASs) in Europe as well as the planning-related fields of action; (2) the legal framework and the political-administrative system significantly determine how national adaptation responses are designed and by which institutions they are implemented and (3) spatial planning has the potential to play an important role in climate change adaptation due to its integrative, cross-sectoral character. In order to discuss the hypotheses, a meta-evaluatio...
TL;DR: In this paper, an attempt is made to develop a scheme of analysis to identify the knowledge base of a regional economy using occupation data in association with a location quotient analysis, to assess whether a region has a particular strength in one (or more) knowledge base.
Abstract: Within the literature on innovation systems, there are a growing number of scholars emphasizing the importance of differentiated knowledge bases underlying innovation activities. The existing work on knowledge bases is largely grounded on in-depth case studies; while surprisingly little effort has been done so far to operationalize the concept in a more systematic manner. In this article, an attempt is made to develop a scheme of analysis to identify the knowledge base of a regional economy. We suggest using occupation data in association with a location quotient analysis, to assess whether a regional economy has a particular strength in one (or more) knowledge bases. To bring the analytical scheme into practice and assess it, we apply it on the county level in Sweden. The results are explained and contrasted with insights into the regional economies taken from secondary sources. We conclude that the proposed scheme of analysis leads to fairly reliable results, and could stimulate further empirical resear...
TL;DR: In this article, a comparative perspective across three European cities (Barcelona, London and Paris) on the role of photovoltaics (PV) technology in wider transformative processes affecting crucial sites in which the sustainabilityability of the built environment is being contested: the powering, planning and construction of cities.
Abstract: In the context of current interest in “low-carbon” interventions and “energy transitions”, this paper provides a comparative perspective across three European cities (Barcelona, London and Paris) on the role of photovoltaics (PV) technology in wider transformative processes affecting crucial sites in which the “sustainability” of the built environment is being contested: the powering, planning and construction of cities For conceptualizing far-reaching urban infrastructural change processes, the combined innovation frameworks of “strategic niche management” (SNM) and the “multi-level perspective” (MLP) on “systems in transition” offer valuable contributions However, some implicit assumptions of these innovation frameworks make them not unproblematic when applied to the urban This paper proposes a way of operationalizing the SNM/MLP for urban transition studies, by drawing on contributions from actor-network theory (ANT) and ANT-inspired scholarship From this conceptual engagement, a refined understand
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a methodological approach to reflect the reflection of cross-border territorialities in a two-fold way, by considering the political changes in these areas.
Abstract: Territoriality is mostly discussed as the political competence to exert control on a certain space, in particular with regard to the nation state. Globalization and European Integration have initiated some debate on this understanding, but cross-cross-border cooperation has rarely been linked to this debate. In these areas enormous political changes have been seen during the recent years. Still, the territorial dimension cannot be addressed, as territoriality as known from nation states is challenging politics. However, the territorial implications are manifold and are increasing throughout Europe. Against this backdrop is conceptual reflection. This paper starts with a brief overview of discussions and the empirical implementation of the territoriality debate. Based on this, the paper attempts to catch up with the political changes – the reflection of cross-border territorialities in a two-fold way. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to this field. First, we propose a methodological approach to s...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyze the benefits of green infrastructure (GI) networks in the North East of England and analyze the potentials for GI planning in Catalonia through cross-national comparison and conclude that the implementation of GI planning would be relatively easy to achieve and mostly beneficial under a Mediterranean environment.
Abstract: As green infrastructure (GI) plans are being developed and implemented in a number of regions throughout the UK and interest in the theory and methods is emerging in various other countries there is opportunity to explore the potentials for GI planning throughout Europe. Using the experience of the UK, and particularly that of stakeholders and organizations in the North East of England, we analyse the functions and benefits that a GI network can provide and, through cross-national comparison, we critically theorize the potentials for GI planning in Catalonia. While recognizing that there are key differences between these regions, particularly in relation to climate, societal characteristics, institutional organizations and frameworks for landscape planning, we discuss the transferability of the characteristics which appear to be provided from GI planning in the UK. We conclude that, overall, the implementation of GI planning would be relatively easy to achieve and mostly beneficial under a Mediterranean e...
TL;DR: In this paper, a conceptual model for environmental burden caused by cars and a categorization of policy instruments and their effects are discussed, and the implications of the successful introduction of electric cars for conventional urban transport policies are discussed.
Abstract: To reduce the environmental burden of urban road traffic, researchers and policy-makers have focused on reducing car use in urban areas, and improving public transport. Current expectations with respect to electric cars are high, not only for environmental reasons, but also because of the expected depletion of fossil fuels. Using a conceptual model for environmental burden caused by cars and a categorization of policy instruments and their effects, this paper discusses policies to encourage the adoption of electric cars. The paper also discusses the implications of the successful introduction of electric cars for conventional urban transport policies. The paper concludes that electric vehicles could bring substantial benefits to the environment and energy consumption, but the long-term environmental benefits largely depend on the size of potential rebound effects, the life-cycle effects with respect to energy, differences between electric cars and their competitors in “well-to-wheel” consumption, and—more...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors contribute to the discussion about spatial planning in and for Europe by discussing territoriality in the strategies and practices of the territorial cohesion policy of the European Union (EU).
Abstract: This article contributes to the discussion about spatial planning in and for Europe by discussing territoriality in the strategies and practices of the territorial cohesion policy of the European Union (EU). The need for new ways of thinking and acting spatially are strongly promoted within the EU's spatial development policies, and the addition of territorial cohesion as one of the main objectives of the EU alongside the economic and social cohesion has brought the debate on European spatial planning back onto the political agenda. Territorial cohesion policy advocates the idea of soft planning, where new soft planning spaces cross the administrative borders within the EU territory. Accordingly, strategic planning and development policies at national and regional levels are engaged with the policy by promoting soft spatial imaginaries characterized by relational understandings of space. The article explores through two empirical materials related to the Member States’ definitions about territorial cohesi...
TL;DR: In this article, actors and activities of cluster initiatives which are intermediaries within clusters of similar and related firms are studied, and a case study method is used to show that their succ...
Abstract: This paper focuses on actors and activities of cluster initiatives which are intermediaries within clusters of similar and related firms. A case study method is used; the cases show that their succ ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the relationship between entrepreneurial activities and entrepreneurial perceptions and the economic performance of regions eligible for EU regional policies in Spain and Germany, based on empirical data on the NUTS2 level.
Abstract: The European Commission in the scope of its cohesion policy tries to increase competitiveness of the European Union (EU) regions by supporting, beside many other instruments, entrepreneurial activities in the EU sub-national regions. This paper sheds an empirical light on the relationship between entrepreneurial activities and entrepreneurial perceptions on the one hand and the economic performance of regions eligible for EU regional policies in Spain and Germany on the other. Based on empirical data on the NUTS2 level, there will be analysis of whether previous EU support has later had an impact on entrepreneurial activities and/or entrepreneurial perception in the regions. The results show empirical evidence for a relationship between entrepreneurial activities and EU regional policies. However, other determinants such as gender and the role model function have an even stronger impact. Some of the results may help to increase the effectiveness of EC regional policies and of regional policies of the nati...
TL;DR: This article identified eight distinct meanings of the environment in contemporary plans including the environment: as local amenity, as heritage landscape, as nature reserve, as storehouse of resources, as tradable commodity, as problem, as sustainability and as risk.
Abstract: Planning in England1 represents an important arena for the development and contestation of environmental discourses. Over the last century the changing assumptions about human-nature relationship have led to numerous meanings of “the environment” in planning. These have in turn influenced the choices made between: preserving, enhancing, protecting, compromising, trading, exploiting or guarding against, the environment. While recognizing the nuances of the environmental discourses, this paper identifies eight distinct meanings of the environment in contemporary plans including the environment: as local amenity, as heritage landscape, as nature reserve, as storehouse of resources, as tradable commodity, as problem, as sustainability and as risk. The latter has emerged as a result of growing climate change awareness. The paper argues that, while the emphasis on climate change mitigation has reinforced some aspects of the sustainability discourse, the adaptation agenda has introduced a new meaning of the envi...