Stronger Together Voluntary Metropolitan Coordination Across Local Boundaries on Sdgs and Governance - Cases from Europe and Asia

Are there any models and mechanisms for effective coordination within metropolitan and mega-urban regions on planning and governance? How can rapid growth of urban regions be guided towards sustainability in Asia, Africa and South America? Can urban regions be planned and governed in coordination across local administrative boundaries, inclusive of land- and resource efficient, low-carbon, climate-resilient, inclusive and competitive urban development in a country and in growing urban regions? How can effective models be replicated?

Urbanization often is not well managed and urban development goes in many or most cases well beyond the territories of local city administrations. This happens for small and medium cities, and it is normal for metropolitan and mega-urban regions. These ‘natural cities’ don’t have administration and coordination which makes effective land use planning, effective and efficient infrastructure and service provision, and risk- informed planning to minimize and manage climate-related disasters very challenging. Coordinating and integrating master planning, land use, transport and open space protection planning will result in synergies and benefits for all areas, jurisdictions and residents. There are cases in which such coordination is practiced and in various forms of mechanisms and institutional and governance arrangements. Various models of successful national planning and urban region coordination will be shared, including top-down and voluntary approaches. Agreeing on achieving SDGs can be an incentive to coordinate across local jurisdictions.

A metropolitan area and urban region is usually formed by different separate cities and towns, bound together by powerful economic and social dynamics and building an urban continuum. The multiplicity of local jurisdictions, endowed with particular governments, makes it more challenging to plan the development of these areas and manage them properly across the different urban policy fields. Furthermore, local autonomy at the municipal level is considered a requisite of a full developed democratic polity. Therefore, an overarching and inclusive governance of metropolitan areas requires the support or at least the acquiescence of the citizens of their constituting municipalities.

Metropolitan areas often have a central city, much larger and influential than the surrounding urban towns, which provides key assets for the benefit of the whole area. However, this may also become an obstacle for metropolitan governance, as the neighboring municipalities can perceive integration as a threat of becoming dominated and/or made irrelevant by the central city. However, considering the huge challenges posed by the deep and speedy climate change, demographic and economic transitions, and growing social inequalities, there is a need for a stronger coordination of policies and governance.