Event
07/06/2021 - 08/06/2021 Online

Transitioning towards sustainable European cities: a law and governance perspective workshop

As the EU Green Deal is promoting transition to climate neutral and smart cities, questions remain on how to fulfill objectives within the existing multi-level and institutional framework. Brining legal and governance scholars together, Maastricht University is organizing a  workshop to offer a new perspective on the topic.

Cities are critical spaces to meeting the EU's climate and energy objectives. While they occupy just 2% of land, they host almost 75% of EU citizens and are responsible for about 70% of CO2 emissions in the EU. European cities are already at the forefront of promoting sustainable solutions.

Taking stock of the latest developments across the world of science and practice, Maastricht University is organizing the workshop 'Transitioning towards sustainable European cities: a law and governance perspective' on June 7 and 8. With workshop that bring together legal and governance scholars, it will offer a fresh perspective on the transition to sustainable, as well as smart and inclusive European cities.

Agenda:

  • Monday June 7
    • 13.00: Welcome & Introduction to the workshop
    • 13.15: Keynote by Mr. Franc Bogovič (European Parliament)
    • 14.00: Coffee Break
    • 14.15: PANEL 1: PROMOTING THE GREEN TRANSITION IN A MULTI-LEVEL SETTING
      • Chair: Dr. Maja Brkan (Maastricht University)
      • Towards Climate Neutral European Cities: Strengthening Accountability in Global Governance by Dr. Cathrin Zengerling (University of Freiburg)
      • The influence of EU law on cities’ environmental strategies by Prof. Josephine Van Zeben (Wageningen University)
      • How cities EU cities deal with environmental risks in a multi-level context by Dr. Charlotte Halpern (Sciences Po Paris)
      • Discussant: Dr. Phillip Paiement (Tilburg University)
    • 16.00: Coffee Break
    • 16.15: PANEL 2: INVOLVING CITIZENS IN THE GREEN URBAN TRANSITION
      •  Chair: Dr. Carlo Colombo (Maastricht University)
      • Integrated approaches to climate adaptation planning in European Cities by Dr. Angela van der Berg (Leiden University)
      • The ‘citizen sensing paradigm’ to face urban inequality: lessons from a pilot study of civic environmental monitoring in Rome by Dr. Anna Berti Suman (Tilburg University)
      • Discussant: Prof. Martijn Groenleer (Tilburg University)
    • 17.30: End of day 1

 

  • Tuesday 8 June
    • 08.45: Keynote Speech "Delivering on fragile achievements? The global urban governance of sustainability in a year of crises" by Prof. Michele Acuto (Melbourne University)
    • 9.30: Coffee Break
    • 9.45: PANEL 3: DEALING WITH COMPLEXITY IN URBAN GREEN TRANSITION
      • Chair: Dr. Marc Dijk (Maastricht University)
      • The elephant in the urban climate governance room: How to scale? by Prof. Jeroen van der Heijden (University of Wellington)
      • Smart intermediaries mainstreaming sustainability transitions in neighbourhoods by Ms. Petra Hofman, Dr. Michiel Stapper and Prof. Martijn Groenleer (Tilburg University)
      • Discussant: Dr. Leonie Reins (Tilburg University)
    • 11.00: Coffee Break
    • 11.15: PANEL 4: REGULATING INNOVATION FOR A GREEN TRANSITION IN EU CITIES
      • Chair: Prof. Martijn Groenleer (Tilburg University)
      • Sustainable Data Governance in the Smart City by Dr. Michèle Finck (Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition)
      • (Un)sustainable Urban mobility: a multi-level coordination challenge by Dr. Carlo Colombo and Dr. Marc Dijk (Maastricht University)
      • Discussant: Prof. Mariolina Eliantonio (Maastricht University)
    • 12.30: Conclusion of the workshop and Follow-Up
    • 13.00: End

Find out more information and registration details here

Back to events