Tales of boundary spanning for climate actions in cities: from theory to practice, and back

Abstract Effective climate actions in cities require integrating knowledge into actionable policy and practice. This perspective article provides empirically grounded insights on different roles, practice challenges and impacts of boundary spanners in mediating the science, policy and practice knowl...

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Main Authors: Sareh Moosavi, Bridget Keane, Debra Roberts, Jorn Verbeeck, Sarah Bell, Cathy Oke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Urban Sustainability
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00246-4
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author Sareh Moosavi
Bridget Keane
Debra Roberts
Jorn Verbeeck
Sarah Bell
Cathy Oke
author_facet Sareh Moosavi
Bridget Keane
Debra Roberts
Jorn Verbeeck
Sarah Bell
Cathy Oke
author_sort Sareh Moosavi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Effective climate actions in cities require integrating knowledge into actionable policy and practice. This perspective article provides empirically grounded insights on different roles, practice challenges and impacts of boundary spanners in mediating the science, policy and practice knowledge universes, by drawing upon critical self-reflections of four boundary spanners. It offers important insights into existing challenges they face in practice, and highlights opportunities for supporting them in accelerating climate actions.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2661-8001
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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record_format Article
series npj Urban Sustainability
spelling doaj-art-10b2a56ab7e044abaca6f77e271eac7a2025-08-20T04:03:03ZengNature Portfolionpj Urban Sustainability2661-80012025-07-01511610.1038/s42949-025-00246-4Tales of boundary spanning for climate actions in cities: from theory to practice, and backSareh Moosavi0Bridget Keane1Debra Roberts2Jorn Verbeeck3Sarah Bell4Cathy Oke5Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of MelbourneFaculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of MelbourneSchool of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-NatalDark Matter LabsFaculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of MelbourneFaculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of MelbourneAbstract Effective climate actions in cities require integrating knowledge into actionable policy and practice. This perspective article provides empirically grounded insights on different roles, practice challenges and impacts of boundary spanners in mediating the science, policy and practice knowledge universes, by drawing upon critical self-reflections of four boundary spanners. It offers important insights into existing challenges they face in practice, and highlights opportunities for supporting them in accelerating climate actions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00246-4
spellingShingle Sareh Moosavi
Bridget Keane
Debra Roberts
Jorn Verbeeck
Sarah Bell
Cathy Oke
Tales of boundary spanning for climate actions in cities: from theory to practice, and back
npj Urban Sustainability
title Tales of boundary spanning for climate actions in cities: from theory to practice, and back
title_full Tales of boundary spanning for climate actions in cities: from theory to practice, and back
title_fullStr Tales of boundary spanning for climate actions in cities: from theory to practice, and back
title_full_unstemmed Tales of boundary spanning for climate actions in cities: from theory to practice, and back
title_short Tales of boundary spanning for climate actions in cities: from theory to practice, and back
title_sort tales of boundary spanning for climate actions in cities from theory to practice and back
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00246-4
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