Sustainable building arenas: Constructing a governance framework for a sustainability transition in Cambodia’s urban built environment

Abstract Transition governance approaches for the building sector have been discussed more than a decade. Very little work has however moved beyond socio-political contexts of Global North to scrutinize spatial-institutional challenges sustainability transitions in South, or illiberal contexts. Consequently, this paper introduces transition framework, Sustainable Building Arena (SBA), that addresses contextual particularities urban regime and its de/stabilizing factors case Cambodia inform transformational change. The design SBA draws on literature management, management as well transdisciplinary arenas, extends these concepts Cambodia’s built environment. It furthermore builds upon results an extensive analysis socio-technical system evaluation residential buildings Phnom Penh, including indoor environmental conditions. is conceptualized informal institution protected co-creative space at science-policy-business-civil society interface. allows sustainability-minded but often marginalized actors co-produce pluralize knowledge - co-development problem framings, visions strategies – facilitates cooperation, creation alternative discourse coalitions networks social capital. Overall, argues such scientifically grounded participatory processes, are attentive designed particular context, can indeed support development actionable knowledge, empowerment collective action transformative change environment sectors outside Western liberal norm studies.