Negotiating urban governance: a comparative study of non-state-led nature-based solutions in China and Europe

The “Negotiating urban governance: a comparative study of non-state-led nature-based solutions in China and Europe” research project is led and supported by the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy at Central European University[1] and the University of Nottingham Ningbo[2] China and core funded by a Balaton Group 2024 Endeavor Grant[3]. This study aims to co-create knowledge on transformative urban governance by comparing the implementation and mainstreaming of non-state-led nature-based solutions in Europe and China, focusing specifically on urban community gardens and food security. The project is co-led by Prof. Linjun Xie[4] at UNN and Prof. László Pintér[5] at CEU.

 This endeavor aims to co-create knowledge on promoting transformative urban governance through a comparative study between Europe and China that focuses on the practices and mainstreaming of non-state-led nature-based solutions related to food security. While each team member will lead research in their respective home base, with Linjun focusing on China, and László on Europe, co-creation will be integral to the project, involving the co-design of the research protocol from the start, comparative analysis, mutual feedback and learning, knowledge exchange and sharing, as well as the co-development of context-sensitive strategies and actions. This will be achieved through regular communication among team members via email or online meetings, workshops that involve different actors, mutual visits, and potentially a short placement.

The intention of this collaboration is to foster a robust interdisciplinary research effort that transcends geographical boundaries, bringing together expertise from China and Europe. The collaboration aims to comprehensively explore and compare nature-based solutions initiated by non-state actors (e.g., civil society or business) in urban contexts, understanding the motivations, roles and dynamics of actors involved, and generating transferable knowledge for transformative urban governance. The collaboration involves joint conceptualization, shared decision-making through continuous mutual feedback, and active participation in the co-development of strategies and actions. This collaborative approach extends from the initial stages of project design to the synthesis and dissemination of research findings, aiming for a holistic and impactful contribution to the field of sustainable urbanism and food security.

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