Urban change agents: citizen-based projects in Cape Town as drivers of transformative pathways towards a climate-friendly, socially just, economically viable and ressource-efficient urban future

The dissertation sheds light on the transformative power of citizen-based projects and highlights their potential to drive innovative urban development processes towards a spatially just, economically viable, climate-friendly and resource-efficient urban future. The city of Cape Town serves as a case study to describe the transition arena and transition management system of civil actors, defined as “Urban Change Agents” (short: UCAs). The research findings deliver insights into the motivation, goals, resources and tools required to perform within their transformative action fields (e.g. reuse and recycle, low-carbon mobility, urban agriculture, and sustainability education). The thesis reveals the range of impacts achieved by UCA projects and establishes barriers preventing the projects from scaling-up or replicating. UCA activities are illustrated as meaningful prototypical solutions to be included into policy strategies, city-wide urban development frameworks, benchmark systems for sustainable spatial developments and local climate actions plans. The dissertation highlights the meaningful role UCAs play in the face of absent or inadequate urban infrastructure services, as showcased in Cape Town, and argues for the co-existence of citizen-driven services alongside the operational utilities’ services provided by the municipality. As a conclusion, the image and leitbild of a Creative Climate City is illustrated and promoted.

Author dc:creator

• Kuhla von Bergmann, Nadine

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Pahl-Weber, Elke
• Hölzle, Katharina

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Identifier URI

http://dx.doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-7812

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:depositonce.tu-berlin.de:11303/8683