ClairCity research
Policy research delivering results
To generate change, we must first understand where we stand. We are analysing the current status of policy in each of our partner cities, with Amsterdam and Bristol already completed, Ljubljana and Sosnowiec following in autumn 2017, and Liguria and the Aveiro region following in early 2018. All completed policy status-quo reports will be published on the ClairCity website.
policy options. These measures involve to a varying degree infrastructural and behavioural changes that directly affect citizens. If confirmed by examination of the other cities, it might therefore be possible to develop in further ClairCity policy research a‘ menu’ of policy options from which policymakers in other cities can choose if they want to address all key fields of citizen-inclusive air quality and carbon policy making in their city.
The political frame of ambition
Air quality and carbon policies in Amsterdam and Bristol were found to be quite differently motivated and advertised or‘ framed’, dependent on the different political contexts in the two cities. In Amsterdam, the presently social-liberal dominated city council focuses in its communications on an‘ energetic society’ with independent and active citizens as main drivers for change together with business. In Bristol, a Labour mayor directs his communication in particular at reducing inequality between different communities in the city.
Comparison of policies in the first two cities, Amsterdam and Bristol, already gives some interesting results to shares.
Supplements to national modelling
In Amsterdam as well as in Bristol, local measurements as a complement to national modelling were found to be very important in underpinning specific local policy ambitions. In some cases, local measurements found street level exceedances of limit values that were not visible in more general national air quality models. Furthermore, there was an emergent trend of‘ citizen science’ in air pollution – residents using DIY kits to take their own measurements. Integrating such action into city policymaking appears a main challenge for citizeninclusive policymaking in the future.
Menu of key measures
City level measures to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions in Amsterdam and Bristol were found to be similar. In the field of transport, the promotion of biking and walking, stimulation of electric transport, inner city clean air zones and improvement of public transport seem the main options available. In the energy field, promotion of district heating and renewable energies as well as stimulation of energy efficient housing and living are the most prominent
However, whereas the communication of policies was found quite different and other groups of citizens seem to be in the middle of political attention in the two cities, this did not preclude ambitious city level air quality and carbon policies in Amsterdam as well as Bristol. Hence, future policy research in ClairCity will further examine the importance of different political contexts for citizen-inclusive city policymaking. This will be part of the work to formulate recommendations for successfully communicating and performing policies across in diverse political circumstances.
Stephan Slingerland( work package leader WP6, policies)
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