Influencing policy: a pathway to sustainable cities

Achieving sustainable cities requires a step change in the capacity of urban actors to anticipate and plan for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

PEAK Urban’s vision is that such a step change leads to future policy, practice, and investment decisions which enhance the development of ‘inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities’ (SDG11). To contribute towards this outcome, our Theory of Change commits to share research with external stakeholders and engage with decision makers around the implications of research.

Policy engagement and influencing have therefore been built into the PEAK programme from the outset. Researchers have shared accessible, multidisciplinary research outputs with non-specialist audiences; built relationships with external stakeholders at all stages of the research process; and contributed to policy planning processes at local, national, and regional levels.

In the first of our PEAK Urban Impact Case Studies, we outline how policy engagement has  demonstrated some early impacts which point to more inclusive and equitable development.