Management of sustainability transitions through planning in shrinking resource city contexts: an evaluation of Yubari City, Japan.

Mabon, Leslie; Shih, Wan-Yu

Abstract

This paper evaluates the planning competences required to enact a managed transition to sustainability at the municipal level for cities facing population, economic and employment decline. Drawing on the 'shrinking cities' literature, we argue consolidation of the built environment can become a focal point for sustaining citizen welfare when transitioning cities facing decline, especially those previously reliant on resource industries. We evaluate the former coal-mining town of Yubari, Japan, which is developing a consolidated urban form with the aim of creating a 'sustainable' future city. Findings from interviews and content analysis of Yubari's planning policy indicate, however, that to translate 'shrinking' a city into a managed transition, spatial planning must be accompanied by a wider range of social policy measures and strong cross-sectoral engagement. We also caution that the unique geographical and political context of Yubari mean its model may not be directly replicable in other contexts.

Citation

MABON, L. and SHIH. W.-Y. 2018. Management of sustainability transitions through planning in shrinking resource city contexts: an evaluation of Yubari City, Japan. Journal of environmental policy and planning [online], 20(4), pages 482-498. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2018.1443004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 16, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Mar 1, 2018
• Publication Date: Aug 31, 2018
• Deposit Date: Feb 19, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 2, 2019
• Journal: Journal of environmental policy and planning
• Print ISSN: 1523-908X
• Electronic ISSN: 1522-7200
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 482-498
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2018.1443004
• Keywords: Managed transition; Shrinking cities; Sustainability; Urban planning; Yubari
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/2765