The contribution of first world city-regions to global sustainability : the case of transboundary externalities and planning in Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

The imperatives of globalisation and sustainability have radically transformed the course of development of city-regions worldwide. While the trajectory in the Third World remains that of maximising wealth creation at the expense of the environment, in the developed world, city- regions have progressively taken the sustainable development approach, such that they are able to grow and simultaneously enhance the environment. This thesis addresses the research question hitherto overlooked: 'How then do First World city-regions contribute to global sustainability?' The investigation contributes to an interdisciplinary body of work, which (1) provides evidence on the problematic case of transboundary externalities, (2) explores whether planning in First World city-regions can help reduce transboundary externalities, and (3) offers an indicative transboundary planning model reflective of the Rawlsian neopragmatic justice framework. Auckland, New Zealand's premier world city-region was used in a case study due to its peripheral and neoliberal character. A network impact analysis was first conducted to determine the causality of transboundary externalities. Thereafter, a three-tier method of strategic policy analysis (SPA) , followed by a series of in-depth interviews were used, to highlight the opportunities and challenges of planning in the areas of land use, transport, waste management, and governance. The network analysis showed that transboundary externalities in the form of Third World environmental degradation and global warming occur from local processes due to skills migration, waste trading, service sector expansion, de-industrialisation, car dependency, devolution, and deregulation. The results of the SPA and interviews highlighted the opportunities in integrated sustainable management, effects-based planning, environmentally focused regional planning, and changing organisational behaviour. Among the challenges, however, were the emphasis on process not outcomes, lack of national representation to induce transboundary consideration, extreme local flexibility, inconsistent planning horizons, conflicting state and local priorities, inadequate skill of planners in assessing higher-order effects, and complacency. To address effectively the transboundary externalities at the city-region level, a Rawlsian planning model is proposed, taking a precautionary, systems, and network approach. The thesis concludes that while First World city-regions may appear locally sustainable, through transboundary externalities, their continued growth may hamper the wider global sustainability agenda. Planning can help reduce these externalities but will be constrained by the environment-economy compromise, local-global dichotomy, and individual preferences that characterise neoliberal economies. The proposed Rawlsian planning model may help planners make First World city-regions contribute to global sustainability.