The intermediary organisation of low carbon cities: a comparative analysis of transitions in Greater London and Greater Manchester

Hodson, M., Marvin, S., & Bulkeley, H. (2013). The Intermediary Organisation of Low Carbon Cities: A Comparative Analysis of Transitions in Greater London and Greater Manchester. Urban Studies, 50(7), 1403–1422. doi:10.1177/0042098013480967

Platform
Sheffield-Manchester Global
Publication type
Scientific article (peer-reviewed)
Projects
Governance and Policy for Sustainability, GAPS Governance, Knowledge, Policy for Sustainability in Greater Manchester
DOI Title
The Intermediary Organisation of Low Carbon Cities: A Comparative Analysis of Transitions in Greater London and Greater Manchester
Journal
Urban Studies
ISSN/ISBN
0042-0980 1360-063X
DOI
10.1177/0042098013480967
Author(s)
Michael Hodson Simon Marvin Harriet Bulkeley
Published year
Subject
Environmental Science (miscellaneous) Urban Studies

 

Abstract

Making a low carbon economic future for the UK has been declared a key priority by both the previous Labour government and also the current coalition government. Yet there is a large gap between the symbolic representations of a low carbon future and their material manifestations in low carbon technologies and infrastructure in particular places. This paper addresses this gap through focusing on the organisation of urban low carbon transition activity. There is often significant capacity to act in reconfiguring urban energy systems that remains latent due to a missing organisational context for its co-ordination according to a mutually defined rationale or vision. This paper develops a conceptual framework to demonstrate and understand different modes of urban energy intermediation. Examples are used of intermediary organisation in London and Manchester to understand the strengths and partiality of each mode of intermediation and the necessity to integrate these different aspects of urban intermediary governance.

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