THE APRU SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND LANDSCAPES HUB: A platform for collaborative knowledge production and action

Abstract

The goal of the APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Hub is to advance the sustainability of human and earth systems through co-production of knowledge that leads to actionable plans for enhancing supportive relationships between cities and their local and regional landscapes. Our investigations focus on four sets of processes: those internal to cities, those occurring within surrounding landscapes, those occurring across urban-rural boundaries, and finally, telecoupling, the transfer of goods and services that connect cities to distant landscapes and economies. Five principles guide our efforts: scholarship for transformative action; common issues and localized solutions; broad geopolitical representation; support for underrepresented communities and vulnerable populations; and the centrality of climate change. The SCL Hub uses a “working group” framework to produce actionable knowledge and plans from each annual conference. Rather than focusing on disseminating research that has already been completed, conferences focus on collaboration among participants to build agendas for research and action. By bringing together diverse participants across geopolitical regions, disciplines, and professions, the working groups aim to enhance local and regional agencies by identifying broadly applicable strategies that are linked to core sustainability practices such as anticipatory planning, action-oriented design, and advocacy.