1 ONE Lessons from cities in a crowded continent We are the first generation that through its neglect could destroy the relationship between humans and the planet, and perhaps the last generation that can prevent dangerous climate change Nicholas Stern, Why Are We Waiting? The Logic, Urgency and Promise of Tackling Climate Change Box 1.1: Bilbao – a story The ancient Basque city of Bilbao captures all the dense, compact, crowded variety of Europe’s industrial cities. High blocks of flats, old in the centre, newer around the edges, are packed with
This original book builds on the author’s research in Phoenix cities to present a vivid story of Europe’s post-industrial cities pre- and post- financial crisis. Using varied case studies the book explores how policy responses to the economic crisis have played out in different European cities, with their contrasting conditions, history and performance generating contrasting reactions. The book compares changes between Northern and Southern European countries, bigger and smaller cities, over the past ten years. Across the continent social cohesion, community investment and social enterprise have gained momentum as Europe’s crowded, resource-constrained cities face up to environmental and social limits faster than other less densely urban countries, such as the US. The author presents a compelling framework to show that Europe’s cities are creating a new industrial economy to combat environmental and social unravelling.
.1%2012 144,389 2012 403,453 Sheffield 2008 246,000 -3,200 -1.3% 2008 456,000 1,368 +0.3%2012 242,800 2012 457,368 Belfast 2010 199,000 -4,385 -2.2% 2008 294,000 No change 2012 194,615 2012 294,000 Note: Overall jobs increased in four of the seven cities. Source: Eurostat, http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do; OECD, http://stats.oecd.org/Index. aspx?DataSetCode=CITIES#; NISRA, Quarterly Employment Survey. 139 European governments support city recovery. First, the large urban populations of a small and crowded continent like Europe cannot realistically abandon
local governments to act, out of a combination of social concern, a continuing desire to eradicate slums, and a strong commitment to avoid the danger of ghettos emerging in Europe. The fear of ghetto formation in Europe had become a recurring theme in the wake of the US Civil Rights movement and the aftermath of decolonisation. There was also the stark reminder of the history of Jewish ghettos in Europe. Allowing historic areas close to city centres to become such running sores was a potential threat to the social order that city governments in a crowded
