First topics announced for 2022 National Cities Research Program
Indigenous perspectives and global citizenship in Australia’s city and urban policies to be examined
22 Mar 2022
AHURI is pleased to announce two new research topics that will be explored as part of the 2022 National Cities Research Program (NCRP). This follows the publishing of three inaugural reports from the new NCRP in 2021.
As AHURI continues to activate it’s NCRP strategic agenda, these new research topics will add to the evidence-base supporting the best decision makers by Australia policy makers.
The two new research topics are:
Indigenous perspectives in urban policy
Australia’s cities are Indigenous places, and a significant proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in urban areas. There is growing awareness of the need to better acknowledge the Aboriginal history of Australia’s urban places. Acknowledging the historical and present practices of dispossession of the traditional custodians of the land on which Australian cities stand is essential for reconciliation.
The inclusion of Aboriginal perspectives, knowledge and traditional practices could greatly benefit Australian cities policy and the planning of Australia’s urban future. An urban research agenda that is informed by Indigenous perspectives would invite this transformative change and there is a need to understand how this could occur in practice.
Empowering Aboriginal people to enrich cities policy and urban practices through Indigenous knowledge, also offers the potential to transition Australian cities to a more equitable and sustainable future and to form a new, shared urban identity. For this to occur, Indigenous voices must be heard and amplified so that these can guide the development of Australian cities.
The global citizenship of Australian cities
International policy frameworks and global networks between cities focus on key urban issues, including safety and social inclusion, social justice and rights, and sustainable development. Urgent international action has focussed on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Cities consume 75 per cent of the world’s natural resources, produce 50 per cent of the planet’s waste, and generate between 60 and 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The need to transition to a more sustainable urban future is highlighted in the UN’s SDG 11 ‘Sustainable cities and communities’ which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
To achieve international goals and agreements on climate change mitigation, there is an urgent need for cities to decarbonise. What this means for individual cities will differ. Already, many cities around the world have adopted ambitious policies with clear targets and outcomes. However, what specific processes or policy instruments are needed to achieve these is still being determined.
As Australia also grapples with these questions, there is an opportunity to contribute to international discussion and to reconsider the place of Australian cities within global urban networks.
The research teams and final projects that will explore each of these topics will be announced in the coming months.
Visit the Cities hub for news, policy analysis and research related to AHURI’s NCRP strategic agenda.