Governance, Institutions, and Urban Resilience: Evaluating Policy Coherence in Sustainable City Transitions

Abstract

Rapid urbanization, climate variability, and infrastructure pressures are increasing the importance of resilience in contemporary urban planning and governance. Cities are required not only to manage environmental and social risks but also to coordinate institutional responses across multiple policy domains to ensure sustainable development. Governance systems and institutional arrangements therefore play a central role in shaping how urban areas respond to shocks, adapt to change, and transition toward sustainability. Despite growing policy attention to resilience, fragmented institutional structures and inconsistent policy implementation often limit the effectiveness of resilience planning in cities.
This study examines the relationship between governance institutions, policy coherence, and urban resilience in the context of sustainable city transitions. Using a qualitative institutional and policy evaluation approach, the research analyzes how coordination among planning institutions, environmental governance systems, and infrastructure policy frameworks influences resilience outcomes. The study emphasizes the importance of integrated governance mechanisms and cross-sector policy alignment in strengthening adaptive capacity and improving sustainability performance in urban systems.
The findings suggest that policy coherence and institutional coordination significantly enhance resilience planning and support sustainable urban transitions, while governance fragmentation weakens long-term resilience outcomes. Strengthening institutional collaboration and aligning urban policies across sectors are therefore essential for building resilient and sustainable cities.