University of Toronto Department of Geography and Program in Planning JPG 1518H: Sustainability and Urban Communities Fall Term 2014

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1 University of Toronto Department of Geography and Program in Planning JPG 1518H: Sustainability and Urban Communities Fall Term 2014 Instructor: Dr. Susannah Bunce Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Program in Planning Telephone: (UTSC) Course Hours: Wednesdays: 11 am-1 pm SS2124A Office Hours: Wednesdays: 2-4 pm SS5022 Course Overview This course examines the concept and discourses of sustainability and its association with communities and neighbourhoods in cities in North America and Europe. The course explores current academic and policy discussion on urban sustainability and its relation to the contemporary context and future of urban communities. Rather than a study of technical applications of sustainability, the socio-- political dimensions of urban sustainability found in human geography and urban planning literatures are examined through a specific focus on the scale of the urban community and neighbourhood. Since the 1980s, sustainability has emerged as a dominant discourse of socio-- environmental change. The application of this concept to social and environmental concerns about the role of cities in global environmental problems has been integral to urban policy discussions since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development ( Rio Summit ) in Since, commitments to sustainability have been made and claimed by both the public and private sectors, which has created a catch-- all sense to the concept. Its ubiquity as a concept and implementable action for achieving limits to growth and fostering more progressive policies and actions for mitigating ecological damage, particularly in cities, provides context for investigating why and how the concept of sustainability is defined in different ways by different actors. It also allows for analyses of how the concept is implemented in practice in various local scale contexts in cities, and why and how the concept is contested by different voices and through varied methods. Overarching questions that guide the course are, why and how has sustainability emerged as a core discourse in urban/environmental geography and planning and what are the major components of sustainability discourses in relation to cities? and why and how are different notions of sustainability engaged with, planned, and/or contested at the scale of urban communities and neighbourhoods?. The course will provide a context for a critical analysis of the emergence of sustainability as a political-- - ecological concept and an examination of forms of political engagement with multiple understandings of urban sustainability. It also offers a forum for analyses of the different ways by which urban communities adopt sustainability ideas and government policies and

2 plans in practice, and develop community-- based planning and development processes for sustainability through local projects and activism. The course is based upon four thematic and topical sections that will be addressed in chronological sequence: 1. Urban political ecology and sustainability 2. Sustainable urban regeneration and planning 3. Socio-ecological justice and sustainability 4. Planning for sustainability in urban communities As a seminar-- based course, the thematic/topical areas provide a focal point for organizing readings and centering class discussion. The first section of the course, Urban political ecology and sustainability, examines recent theoretical discussions pertaining to the production of urban nature (what constitutes nature in cities and how urban natures are produced), the relational associations and connections between social and natural processes in cities, and the construction of sustainability as a political-- ecological concept. The first two weeks of the course will be dedicated to exploring concepts of urban political ecology in relation to the construction of sustainability as a broad framework for addressing how the concept is utilized in policy and community-- based planning practices. Section 2 of the course, Sustainable urban regeneration and planning explores recent discussions on sustainability governance, sustainability in urban policy discourse and the implementation of sustainability policy through urban planning. The examination of recent literature, generated primarily in Britain in relation to recent national governance emphases on regenerating urban communities through sustainability practices, provides a basis for investigating the governance and political aims of urban sustainability at the community and neighbourhood scale. Section 3 of the course, Socio-- ecological justice and sustainability, addresses recent discourse in geography regarding just sustainabilities ; the integration of social equity and justice principles into urban sustainability definitions. Discussions will examine the traditional distinctions between ecological and social ideas and practices of sustainability and contemporary efforts to reconcile these differences in both academic debates and urban community-- based practices. This section will explore urban environmental justice as a conceptual framework and community-- based social and ecological movement in order to understand approaches to the discursive and ideological integration of social and ecological definitions of sustainability. The last section, Planning for sustainability in urban communities, will allow for a practice-- - based examination of rationales for why and how sustainability is adopted in urban communities. Drawing from an integrated literature on community-- based development and planning, and applications of community-- based sustainability, the section will explore different methods by which urban communities define and produce sustainability through locally based projects and actions. Analyses of the challenges, contradictions, and considered successes in the implementation of various levels of government sustainability policies and 2

3 plans at the community and neighbourhood scale, community-- based planning processes, as well as urban movements designed to produce more sustainable communities, such as Reclaim the Streets, guerilla gardening, bicycle activism, sustainable housing, and collective land ownership, will be analyzed through case examples from different cities. This course section will provide a forum to address a particular case example as a possible idea for the inclass presentation and the term paper research and will encapsulate discussion from the duration of the course. Course Readings The readings listed on the syllabus are required course material. Chapters from books will be made available on Blackboard. Journal articles are available through e-- journals on the University of Toronto library site. Readings are to be completed in advance of each class. Class participants are to complete notes on the readings and come to class with points or questions in preparation of discussion. Assignments and Evaluation Readings and Participation: Course readings are assigned on a weekly basis and evaluation of the analysis and interpretation of the readings is an integral part of student evaluation (10% of the total course grade grade to be assigned at the end of term). Readings are to be completed before each class. Participants are to prepare 2-3 questions or discussion points on the readings in advance of class. Chapters from books will be scanned and posted on blackboard. Journal articles are to be found independently through UofT library e-- journals, except the articles that cannot be found through the library (these will be posted on blackboard). Reading Presentation and Written Reflection: A presentation of one selected course reading and completion of a 5-page critical reflection on the selected reading will constitute 25% of the total course grade (10% for presentation and 15% for written reflection of selected reading). The 5-page written reflection is due at workshop keynote talk on Wednesday October 15 th or in class on Wednesday, October 22nd. Research Proposal: 2-3 page proposal outlining research topic, methods, and preliminary bibliography (10% of total grade, due in class on Wednesday, October 22 th ). Individual or Group Presentation: The course requires the completion of an individual or group research presentation to be given in class (25% of the total course grade). Presentations will take place on Wednesday, November 19 th and Wednesday, November 26th. Individuals or groups of 2-4 students will select a course topic identified in the research proposal and conduct collective research on the topic that will culminate in a minute presentation. Research Paper: Based on the group research, the submission of a sole authored page research paper is expected on Monday, December 1 st (30% of the total course grade). Papers written 3

4 collectively by the research group will be considered. In this case, one mark given to the paper and each group member will contribute pages of writing to a larger report. Grade Distribution and Due Dates Participation in weekly discussion of readings: 10% Presentation of selected reading in class (15 minutes): 10% Written analysis of selected reading (5 pages): 15% Due: Wednesday, October 22 nd Research Proposal (2-3 pages): 10% Wednesday, October 29th Group research presentation (20 minutes): 25% Wednesday, November 19 th or Wednesday, November 26th in class. Individual final paper (15 pages): 30% Due: Monday, December 1st Weekly Outline Week 1: Wednesday, September 10 Welcome and Introduction to Sustainability Concepts Adams, W.A. (2006). The Future of Sustainability: Re-thinking Sustainability in the Twenty-first Century The World Conservation Union Robinson, P. and Dale, A. (2012). Chapter 1: Generational Responses: Why a Third? In: Dale, A., Dushenko, W. and Robinson, P. (eds.) Urban Sustainability: Reconnecting Space and Place University of Toronto Press, Toronto. pp World Commission on Environment and Development (1987)(ed.). Chapter 2: Towards Sustainable Development in: Our Common Future Oxford University Press, Oxford. pp Week 2: Wednesday, September 17 Political Ecology of Sustainability Castree, N. (2001) Chapter 1: Socializing Nature: Theory, practice and politics in: Castree, N. and Braun, B. (Eds.) Social Nature: Theory, practice and politics Blackwell, London and New York City. pp Davoudi, S. (2014). Climate Change, Securitisation of Nature, and Resilient Urbanism Environment and Planning C 32(2), Swyngedouw, E. (1996). The City as a Hybrid: On nature, society and cyborg urbanization Capitalism, Nature, Socialism 7(2), Stefanovic, I. (2012). Chapter 1: In Search of the Natural City in: Stefanovic, I, Scharper, S. (eds.) The Natural City: Reenvisioning the built environment University of Toronto Press, Toronto. pp Week 3: Wednesday, September 24 4

5 Contradictions and Contestations of Sustainability Campbell, S. (1996). Green Cities, Growing Cities, Just Cities? Journal of the American Planning Association 62(3), Gunder, M. (2006). Sustainability: Planning s saving grace or road to perdition? Journal of Planning Education and Research 26, Gibbs, D. and Krueger, R. (2007). Chapter 4: Containing the Contradictions of Rapid Development? New Economy Spaces and Sustainable Urban Development in: Krueger, R. and Gibbs, D. (eds.). The Sustainable Development Paradox: Urban Political Economy in the United States and Europe The Guilford Press, NYC/London. pp Marcuse, P. (1998). Sustainability is Not Enough Environment and Urbanization 10 (2), Week 4: Wednesday, October 1 Governance and Sustainability in Urban Communities Cochrane, A. (2012). Chapter 3: Sustainable Communities and English spatial policy in: Flint, J. and Raco, M. (eds.) The Future of Sustainable Cities: Critical Reflections The Policy Press, University of Bristol. pp Evans, J. and Jones, P. (2008). Chapter 5: Sustainability in: Urban Regeneration in the U.K.: Theory and practice Sage Publications, London. pp Lees, L. (2003). Chapter 3: Visions of Urban Renaissance : The Urban Task Force Report and the Urban White Paper in: Imrie, R. and Raco, M. (eds). Urban Renaissance? New Labour, community and urban policy Policy Press, Bristol. pp Raco, M. (2007). Chapter 8: Spatial Policy, Sustainability and State Restructuring: A reassessment of sustainable community building in England in: Krueger, R. and Gibbs, D. (eds.). The Sustainable Development Paradox: Urban political economy in the U.S. and Europe Guilford Press, New York City. pp Week 5: Wednesday, October 8 Just Sustainability? Socio- ecological Justice and Urban Communities Agyeman, J. (2005). Chapter 2: The Sustainability Discourse and Sustainable Communities, and Chapter 4: Just Sustainability in Practice in: Sustainable Communities and the Challenge of Environmental Justice New York University Press, New York City. pp and Agyeman, J., Bullard, R., and Evans, B. (2003). Chapter 1; Joined-- up Thinking: Bringing together sustainability, environmental justice and equity in: Just Sustainabilities: Development in an unequal world MIT Press, Boston. pp

6 Blowers, A. (2003). Chapter 3: Inequality and Community and the Challenge to Modernization: Evidence from the Nuclear Oases in: Just Sustainabilities: Development in an unequal world MIT Press, Boston. pp Week 6: Wednesday, October 15 International Workshop on Community-University Scholarship and Engagement University of Toronto Scarborough, AA102 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Leslie Brown, Director, Institute for Studies and Innovation in Community-University Engagement, University of Victoria. 10:30am-12:30 pm. * or optional week to work on reading reflection and/or research proposal Week 7: Wednesday, October 22 Planning and Developing Sustainable Urban Communities Angotti, T. (2008). Is New York City s Sustainability Plan Sustainable? ACSP/AESOP conference, Chicago July Cowell, R. and Owens, S. (2006). Governing Space: Planning reform and the politics of sustainability Environment and Planning C 24, DeFilippis, J., Fisher, R., and Shragge, E. (2010). Chapter 1: Community and Its Discontents in: Contesting Community: The limits and potential of local organizing Rutgers University Press, N.J. pp Iracheta, A. (2013). Sustainable City: Crisis and opportunity in Mexico in: Krause, L. (ed.) Sustaining Cities: Urban policies, practices, and perceptions Rutgers University Press, N.J. pp Week 8: Wednesday, October 29 Sustainability and Intentional Urban Communities Ergas, C. (2010). A Model of Sustainable Living: Collective identity in an urban ecovillage Organization and Environment 23(1), Litfin, K. (2014). Chapter 2: Around the World in Fourteen Ecovillages in: Ecovillages: Lessons for sustainable community Polity Press, Cambridge. pp Mapes, J. and Wolch, J. (2011). Living Green : The promise and pitfalls of new sustainable communities Journal of Urban Design 16(1), Wheeler, S. and Beatley, T. (2009). Part 6: Case Studies of Urban Sustainability in: Wheeler and Beatley (eds). The Sustainable Urban Development Reader Second Edition Routledge, London. pp

7 Week 9: Wednesday, November 5 Sustainability and Urban Community Activism Batterbury, S. (2003). Environmental Activism and Social Networks: Campaigning for bicycles and alternative transport in West London Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 590(1), Connelly, S., Markey, S., and Roseland, M. (2011). Bridging Sustainability and the Social Economy: Achieving community transformation through local food initiatives Critical Social Policy 31(2), Firth, C., Maye, D. and Pearson, D. (2011). Developing community in community gardens Local Environment: International Journal of Justice and Sustainability 16(6), McClymont, K. and O Hare, P. (2008). We re not NIMBYs!: Contrasting local protest groups with idealized conceptions of sustainable communities Local Environment: International Journal of Justice and Sustainability 13(4), Week 10: Wednesday, November 12 Sustainability and Urban Community Housing Film: Homes and Hands: Community Land Trusts in Action (2008) Cidell, J. (2009). A Political Ecology of the Built Environment: LEED certification for green buildings Local Environment: International Journal of Justice and Sustainability 14(7), Ercan, M.A. (2011). Challenges and Conflicts in Achieving Sustainable Communities in Neighbourhoods of Istanbul Habitat International 35, Vallance, S., Perkins, H., and Dixon, J. (2011). What is Social Sustainability? A clarification of concepts Geoforum 42(3), Additional documents (available on Blackboard): Lind, G. (2011). Ripple Effect: How one renovation project can lead to community revitalization Sustainable Building Magazine Summer 2011 Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (2005). Green Value: Green Buildings, Growing Assets Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, London. Week 11: Wednesday, November 19 Term Research Presentations Week 12: Wednesday, November 26 Term Research Presentations 7

8 Note: Course Correspondence Blackboard will be used for announcements, relevant postings, and discussion on course topics outside of class. Course participants are encouraged to post and discuss relevant newspapers articles and documents and announce local sustainability and community events. Accessibility Needs: If you require accommodations or have any accessibility concerns, please visit as soon as possible. University Policy on Academic Integrity: Plagiarism is an academic offense at the University of Toronto. Plagiarism is quoting (or paraphrasing) the work of an author (including the work of fellow students) without proper use of citation (and quotations marks when using an author s words). Students also should not be submitting any academic work for which credit has previously been obtained or is being sought, without first discussing with the instructor. Please consult the Rules and Regulations section of the Arts and Science Calendar ( for further information and check the How not to plagiarize website at: 8

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