Research field: Urban Transformations Towards Sustainability: A Law and Governance Perspective

The project examines how the ‘city’ and urbanity are conceptualized in law and used as starting points for transformation measures. Central to this is an analysis of the terms used (or also not used) in the Austrian and European legal framework. Recent EU legislation, such as the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, contains measures specifically tailored to cities and urban areas. As a result, Austrian law will have to incorporate formerly unknown concepts to meet the challenges of transformation, particularly in urban areas. The project analyses the interrelationships between the different sets of legal rules, identifies possible gaps in the legal framework, and discusses the extent to which the legal framework enables or hinders transformation. In line with research-led teaching, the results of the project will also be incorporated into the design of the course on ‘Transforming Cities and Regions: Foundations’ (WUPOL specialization).

Project lead: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Verena Madner, PD Dr. Teresa Weber, MSc.