Transformative capacity for sustainability transitions in water management in Germany and Brazil

Abstract

The current climate crisis has been sharply exerting global pressure to alter patterns of action and accelerate profound changes in pursuit of sustainable urban systems. Within this scenario, the community of scholars in sustainability transitions has sought approaches that enable path-deviating advances in socio-technical systems, especially at the urban scale. However, understanding and applying such theories in the local Brazilian context, where both the field of territorial planning and the discussions on systemic change are still emerging, can be considered a challenge. The notion of urban transformative capacity developed by Wolfram (2016; 2019) identifies the skills necessary for cities and stakeholders to forward changes toward sustainability, preparing and facilitating transition processes. The aim of the research is, on the theoretical side, to deepen the knowledge about the methodological approach to urban transformative capacity and, on the practical side, to apply it in a German case study that directly contributes to the analysis of Brazilian cases (Santo André and Mauá). The research will be based on a literature review, document analysis, and technical visits with key actors of the German transition processes. It is intended to articulate new approaches - such as urban transformative capacity, socio-technical transition theory, and the Brazilian spatial planning field - to analyze urban infrastructures, in particular in the context of drainage and stormwater management.Research into the concepts of urban transformative capacity and urban transitions is given a high prominence by the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER), given that among its research areas one of them stands out, "Research Area of Transformative Capacities". Besides that, The IOER has cooperation with various faculties of the University of Excellence for supporting the academic education of students. Thus, the institute's teaching services focus on Dresden Leibniz Graduate School (DLGS) with a course on Urban Transformative Capacity being offered in the winter semester at the TU Dresden. Prof. Dr. Marc Wolfram designed the concept of urban transformative capacity at IOER, the institution where he is the director, and he has a high experience in understanding complex socio-technical systems and sustainability transitions. In addition, the professor is co-founder of the STRN thematic group "Urban transitions and transformations", which can open doors and opportunities for possible cooperation, publications, and other scientific activities. (AU)