Cities Are Concentrators of Complex, MultiSectoral Interactions Within the Human‐Earth System

Abstract Cities are concentrators of complex, multi‐sectoral interactions. As keystones in the interconnected human‐Earth system, cities have an outsized impact on the Earth system. We describe a multi‐lens framework for organizing our understanding of the complexity of urban systems and scientific...

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Main Authors: Christa Brelsford, Andrew Jones, Bhartendu Pandey, Pouya Vahmani, Melissa Allen‐Dumas, Deeksha Rastogi, Kevin Sparks, Melissa Bukovsky, Iryna Dronova, Tianzhen Hong, David M. Iwaniec, Michelle E. Newcomer, Sean C. Reid, Zhonghua Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-11-01
Series:Earth's Future
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF004481
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author Christa Brelsford
Andrew Jones
Bhartendu Pandey
Pouya Vahmani
Melissa Allen‐Dumas
Deeksha Rastogi
Kevin Sparks
Melissa Bukovsky
Iryna Dronova
Tianzhen Hong
David M. Iwaniec
Michelle E. Newcomer
Sean C. Reid
Zhonghua Zheng
author_facet Christa Brelsford
Andrew Jones
Bhartendu Pandey
Pouya Vahmani
Melissa Allen‐Dumas
Deeksha Rastogi
Kevin Sparks
Melissa Bukovsky
Iryna Dronova
Tianzhen Hong
David M. Iwaniec
Michelle E. Newcomer
Sean C. Reid
Zhonghua Zheng
author_sort Christa Brelsford
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cities are concentrators of complex, multi‐sectoral interactions. As keystones in the interconnected human‐Earth system, cities have an outsized impact on the Earth system. We describe a multi‐lens framework for organizing our understanding of the complexity of urban systems and scientific research on urban systems, which may be useful for natural system scientists exploring the ways their work can be made more actionable. We then describe four critical dimensions along which improvements are needed to advance the urban research that addresses urgent climate challenges: (a) solutions‐oriented research, (b) equity‐centered assessments which rely on fine‐scale human and ecological data, (c) co‐production of knowledge, and (d) better integration of human and natural systems occurring through theory, observation, and modeling.
format Article
id doaj-art-f22d5c6fe3884059abe9d01e73132c46
institution Kabale University
issn 2328-4277
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Earth's Future
spelling doaj-art-f22d5c6fe3884059abe9d01e73132c462024-12-10T08:50:40ZengWileyEarth's Future2328-42772024-11-011211n/an/a10.1029/2024EF004481Cities Are Concentrators of Complex, MultiSectoral Interactions Within the Human‐Earth SystemChrista Brelsford0Andrew Jones1Bhartendu Pandey2Pouya Vahmani3Melissa Allen‐Dumas4Deeksha Rastogi5Kevin Sparks6Melissa Bukovsky7Iryna Dronova8Tianzhen Hong9David M. Iwaniec10Michelle E. Newcomer11Sean C. Reid12Zhonghua Zheng13Los Alamos National Laboratory Analytics Intelligence and Technology Division Los Alamos NM USALawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division Berkeley CA USAOak Ridge National Laboratory Geospatial Science and Human Security Division Oak Ridge TN USALawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division Berkeley CA USAOak Ridge National Laboratory Computational Sciences and Engineering Division Oak Ridge TN USAOak Ridge National Laboratory Computational Sciences and Engineering Division Oak Ridge TN USAOak Ridge National Laboratory Geospatial Science and Human Security Division Oak Ridge TN USAHaub School of Environment and Natural Resources University of Wyoming Laramie WY USADepartments of Environmental Science Policy & Management and Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning University of California Berkeley Berkeley CA USALawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Building Technology and Urban Systems Division Berkeley CA USAUrban Studies Institute Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Georgia State University Atlanta GA USALawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Earth and Environmental Science Area Berkeley CA USADepartment of Geography University of California Santa Barbara CA USADepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Manchester Manchester UKAbstract Cities are concentrators of complex, multi‐sectoral interactions. As keystones in the interconnected human‐Earth system, cities have an outsized impact on the Earth system. We describe a multi‐lens framework for organizing our understanding of the complexity of urban systems and scientific research on urban systems, which may be useful for natural system scientists exploring the ways their work can be made more actionable. We then describe four critical dimensions along which improvements are needed to advance the urban research that addresses urgent climate challenges: (a) solutions‐oriented research, (b) equity‐centered assessments which rely on fine‐scale human and ecological data, (c) co‐production of knowledge, and (d) better integration of human and natural systems occurring through theory, observation, and modeling.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF004481citiesclimate changemulti‐sector dynamics
spellingShingle Christa Brelsford
Andrew Jones
Bhartendu Pandey
Pouya Vahmani
Melissa Allen‐Dumas
Deeksha Rastogi
Kevin Sparks
Melissa Bukovsky
Iryna Dronova
Tianzhen Hong
David M. Iwaniec
Michelle E. Newcomer
Sean C. Reid
Zhonghua Zheng
Cities Are Concentrators of Complex, MultiSectoral Interactions Within the Human‐Earth System
Earth's Future
cities
climate change
multi‐sector dynamics
title Cities Are Concentrators of Complex, MultiSectoral Interactions Within the Human‐Earth System
title_full Cities Are Concentrators of Complex, MultiSectoral Interactions Within the Human‐Earth System
title_fullStr Cities Are Concentrators of Complex, MultiSectoral Interactions Within the Human‐Earth System
title_full_unstemmed Cities Are Concentrators of Complex, MultiSectoral Interactions Within the Human‐Earth System
title_short Cities Are Concentrators of Complex, MultiSectoral Interactions Within the Human‐Earth System
title_sort cities are concentrators of complex multisectoral interactions within the human earth system
topic cities
climate change
multi‐sector dynamics
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF004481
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