Urban Studies and Climate Policy

This set of flashcards covers vocabulary and key concepts regarding urban studies, transportation infrastructure, and climate policy.

City as Sweatshop

Concept referring to urban areas where labor conditions resemble those in sweatshops, often highlighting exploitation and precarity of workers (Henaway, M.).

Invisible Workers

Refers to essential workers, often immigrants and racialized people, who perform low-paid jobs during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just-in-Time Logistics

An economic model that reduces inventory and increases reliance on immediate delivery, leading to increased job precarity.

Gig Economy

A labor market characterized by short-term contracts and freelance work, often without the protections of traditional employment.

Temporary Placement Agencies

Firms that provide workers to businesses temporarily, often in conditions that lack basic labor protections.

Agri-Food Sector

Economic segment that involves the production and processing of food, heavily reliant on low-wage immigrant labor.

Planetary Gentrification

The global phenomenon of urban gentrification impacting cities worldwide, especially in emerging economies.

Urban Neoliberalism

An ideology prioritizing market-oriented urban policies, often at the expense of social equity and welfare.

Militarization of Civil Society

The adoption of military strategies and technologies for urban governance and surveillance.

Resilience in Urban Planning

Ability of cities to recover from disasters or disruption, often discussed in the context of climate change adaptations.

E-Borders Programme

UK initiative aimed at using technology to track and monitor individuals crossing borders, raising privacy concerns.

Surveillance Technologies

Electronic systems used to monitor behavior and activities of individuals, often enhancing state control.

Environmental Gentrification

Process where improvements to neighborhoods, often for ecological reasons, lead to the displacement of original low-income residents.

Social Mixing Policies

Urban strategies designed to encourage the integration of diverse income groups, often criticized for gentrifying affected areas (Lynch & Pottie-Sherman).

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into rural land, leading to increased reliance on automobiles.

Mass Transit Infrastructure

Public transportation systems designed to carry large numbers of people efficiently, often funded by government initiatives.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Urban planning approach focusing on creating compact, walkable communities around public transport hubs.

Heat Island Effect

Urban areas experiencing higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas due to human activities, affecting climate resilience.

Managed Retreat

Planned relocation of communities to safer areas in response to risks from climate change, such as flooding.

Climate Justice

Movement for fair treatment of all people in environmental policies, ensuring that vulnerable populations are prioritized in climate actions.

Bicycle Infrastructure

Designated safe spaces for cycling within urban areas, crucial for promoting non-motorized transport.

Urbanization and Climate Crisis

The simultaneous growth of cities and the threats posed by climate change, necessitating integrated responses.

Public Affluence

The benefits derived from shared public resources and services, as opposed to the accumulation of private wealth.

Informal Transportation

Transport services that operate without official regulation, often filling gaps left by formal public transit.

Precarious Labor

Employment that is insecure, low-paid, and often without benefits, common in gig and temporary work.

Union Power Decline

The reduction of labor union influence, making organizing for worker rights more challenging.

Urban Policy and Planning

Strategies and frameworks governing the development of urban environments, crucial in addressing climate issues.

Public Transit Affordability

The economic accessibility of public transportation services, which tends to vary greatly between regions.

Green Infrastructure

Urban designs that utilize natural processes to manage stormwater and enhance ecological health.

Decarbonization Strategies

Policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions in urban settings as a response to climate change.

Built Environment

The physical structures and spaces created by humans, influencing urban living and interactions with climate.

Securitization of Urban Life

The increasing emphasis on security measures and surveillance in urban policy, often tied to broader military strategies.

C40 Cities Network

A group of large cities working together to tackle climate change and drive urban action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Social Reproduction

The processes of maintaining and nurturing the labor force within society, often tied to systemic inequalities.

Urban Heat Vulnerability

The susceptibility of urban populations, particularly marginalized groups, to heat stress and related health impacts.

Transportation Equity

Ensuring fair access to transportation options for all community members, regardless of income or social status.

Car Dependency

Reliance on automobiles for transport, often resulting in adverse environmental and social impacts.

Smart City Technologies

Digital innovations aimed at optimizing urban services and governance but often overlook accessibility for all citizens.

Gated Communities

Residential areas with restricted access, often for security, privacy, or exclusivity, leading to social segregation (Lynch & Pottie-Sherman).

Urban Entrepreneurialism

A model of urban governance where cities act like businesses, competing for investment and promoting economic growth, often through public-private partnerships (Kujawa).