IN-PLAN PRACTICE
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While the baseline assessment provides a municipality or region an understanding of the current framework and circumstances they are working in, developing clear goals and a vision is crucial for defining the purpose of the planning process. This stage involves asking key questions: Which problems should be addressed through integrated spatial planning? What is the future vision for the municipality or region in relation to these challenges? Which measurable goals should be achieved? It is essential to ensure that the established vision and goals align with exiting strategies, planning documents, and overarching objectives. This alignment guarantees coherence and compatibility with current policies and initiatives. Furthermore, it is important to build support and foster a common understanding of the vision and goals to secure overall commitment to the process. At this stage, engaging all relevant stakeholders is necessary to consider diverse interests and perspectives.
A common understanding of current problems forms an essential foundation for developing of a vision. The baseline assessment in the previous phase should have established a robust database and basic maps to provide insights into various spatial challenges. However, at this stage, it is crucial to involve political, public, and private stakeholders to broaden the understanding of local problems. Engaging these stakeholders helps identify nuanced issues and ensures a more comprehensive perspective. Additionally, local challenges should be contextualised within global developments, such as climate change, to understand their origins and dynamics better.
Creating a shared vision for the future is a crucial step in integrated spatial planning. A vision provides a long-term perspective and a framework for decision-making. It should encompass aspirations for a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive community that effectively addresses climate change adaptation, mobility, and energy planning. This vision could include: communities that are well-prepared for climate impacts, with robust infrastructure and adaptive strategies to manage extreme weather events; a transportation system that promotes walking, cycling, and the use of public transit, reducing dependency on private vehicles and lowering carbon emissions; and a commitment to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal, alongside improved energy efficiency in buildings and infrastructure. The vision should be developed through a participatory process, involving stakeholders from various sectors and levels of government to ensure it reflects the community’s values and aspirations (see also next steps).
Based on the overarching vision, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals should be established. These goals will guide the planning process and ensure that efforts are focused and effective. In the process of setting goals, conflicts may arise. For instance, expanding green spaces might compete with the need for new housing developments. These conflicts should be addressed through transparent dialogue and negotiation, prioritising actions that provide the greatest overall benefit. Trade-offs may be necessary, and a balanced approach should be taken to ensure that progress in one area does not unduly compromise another.
This visioning tool helps stakeholders create a shared vision by imagining future headlines for a newspaper. Participants are drafting headlines, sub-headlines, and storylines as if written in a newspaper, magazine, or blog two to five years into the future. Ideal for city practitioners and local stakeholders.
For further information see Newspaper of Tomorrow.
The key to broad commitment is participation. Of course, you will already have defined this moment as a crucial point in your stakeholder engagement plan. Involving different types of stakeholders – public, private, civil society, academia, etc. – in the discussion about problems, vision and goals is essential. On the one hand, they bring in a variety of perspectives and real live experiences, that public administration alone can never account for. On the other hand, enabling broad involvement in the first stages of the planning process, establishes public and political backing for the plan. Bringing in the perspectives of colleagues from other departments will also be extremely useful in this planning phase.
This could also be a moment to revise your stakeholder engagement plan as you might encounter stakeholders that seem more valuable to the planning process than expected or others that turn out less relevant. It is important to mention, that this is not the only moment in the planning process, where stakeholders should be involved. But we would like to highlight this as one of the most crucial instances to ensure broad commitment.
“Barcelona’s Climate Plan 2018-2030” is a holistic approach to combat climate change, engaging all stakeholders in a unified vision. With ambitious goals like a 45 % emissions cut by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, the plan emphasises collaboration and inclusivity, incorporating input from citizens and over 1,800 organisations. Its aims span from mitigating climate impact to promoting adaptation, ensuring climate justice, and empowering citizen action, reflecting Barcelona’s commitment to a sustainable future.
For further information see Climate Plan Barcelona.
A long-term overall strategy to achieve climate neutrality can effectively guide municipal development and planning. Clearly defined visions and goals are essential foundations for this strategy. Once specific goals are agreed upon, it is crucial to ensure they are collectively aligned. This alignment allows for proper prioritisation and implementation of measures and subsequent actions. Additionally, the defined vision and goals should be harmonised with existing energy and climate policy objectives at local, regional, national, and international levels, ensuring coherence and integration with broader policy frameworks.
Policymakers and other relevant stakeholders are often unaware of the intricacies of territorial systems, their interrelations, and a unified vision for long-term objectives. Understanding these aspects is essential for securing political support, driving local action, and ensuring the political commitment necessary to mobilise resources for implementing plans and fostering synergies among ongoing initiatives. Furthermore, it is important that the defined vision and goals align with contemporary legal and normative standards, providing a robust legal basis for actions and facilitating compliance and support.
Additionally, this is a critical moment to involve colleagues from other departments or administrative levels to ensure coherence of visions and goals with spatial relevance. Cross-departmental and inter-level collaboration enhances the integration of diverse perspectives and expertise, ensuring a more comprehensive and effective approach to achieving climate neutrality. This involvement ensures that the strategy is not only aligned with various administrative agendas but also benefits from a multidisciplinary approach, strengthening the overall planning process.