ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of green spaces in the socio-ecological transition of European cities. In the European Union, land use changes are mostly and increasingly marked by land consumption, due to ongoing urbanisation with concomitant urban sprawl leading to a decreasing density of cities. Achieving sustainable land use management is crucial for a socio-ecological transition in Europe. The role and governance of the resource system of green spaces in European cities play an important part in this process due to increasing urbanisation and the multiple functions urban green spaces provide. The chapter provides insight into two major components of socio-ecological transitions. It describes the observed sustainability transition, while the second one examines existing self-organisation capabilities. The chapter investigates the evolution of norms in the governance of local resources and tries to answer the question whether local decision-making autonomy matters in the socio-ecological transition.
