Session

The Urban Europe Research Alliance (UERA) invites urban researchers to exchange with a focus on equitable urban transformation that addresses and integrates "left behind" territories and populations. The rapid acceleration of urbanization, geopolitical and climate crises continue to call for sustainable and equitable urban transformations. While strategic synthesis models - such as the 15-minute city for mobility, Positive Energy Districts for energy, and Circular Urban Economies (CUE) for circularity - are gaining recognition across Europe, their translation into practice remains uneven. These models are often implemented in well-resourced metropolitan regions, while socio-spatially marginalized or 'left behind' urban areas continue to face barriers to sustainable transformation. This session seeks to explore the role of urban research in advancing experiments for sustainable and equitable urban transitions e.g. in living labs, with a focus on learning in action, knowledge exchange and capacity building, and equitable transformation pathways. Drawing on implementation experiences from diverse contexts, the session will provide a space to present and discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with framing and adapting sustainability in real urban settings.

Critical questions guiding this session:

• What can we learn from ongoing and completed urban experiments across Europe and beyond?

• How can such learnings be accessed, adapted, and applied by less resourced or peripheral cities and regions?

• What methods, tools, and competencies are necessary to foster inclusive urban experimentation networks?

• How can collaborative learning approaches shape equitable future strategies for sustainable urban transformation?