Cities experience different challenges and opportunities in sustainability transitions. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a holistic framework to tackle the challenges that cities face such as climate change, environmental degradation, inequality, and injustice. Along with local governments, citizens play a key role in the transition towards sustainable cities. As cities differ in the challenges they face, it is important to understand the details before suggesting solutions and policies at different levels.
Citizens, policymakers, scientists, businesses, enterprises, and other relevant stakeholders in many cities are already co-creating solutions to improve quality of life, promote sustainability, and manage global challenges of this century. Citizen engagement is especially important in urban regeneration, particularly in relation to municipal and regional planning. There is plenty of evidence showing how citizen engagement can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development at local, regional, and national levels. Yet, there is varied availability of data or information and indicators measuring the effects of solutions and progress towards urban sustainability.
This Research Topic aims to discuss citizen engagement methods and approaches, their performance in enabling better outcomes, and broader changes to governance that they may drive. Authors are encouraged to explore these, in the form of Original Research and Reviews, on the following topics:
• Citizen engagement methods and approaches for sustainable urban transitions
• Blue-green infrastructure & nature-based solutions for sustainable urban transitions
• The role of citizen participation in the SDGs
• Drivers and barriers of sustainable cities development
• Injustice and inequality in urban sustainability transitions
• Mobility and compact city vs. decentralized solutions
• Sustainable land management and development
Cities experience different challenges and opportunities in sustainability transitions. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a holistic framework to tackle the challenges that cities face such as climate change, environmental degradation, inequality, and injustice. Along with local governments, citizens play a key role in the transition towards sustainable cities. As cities differ in the challenges they face, it is important to understand the details before suggesting solutions and policies at different levels.
Citizens, policymakers, scientists, businesses, enterprises, and other relevant stakeholders in many cities are already co-creating solutions to improve quality of life, promote sustainability, and manage global challenges of this century. Citizen engagement is especially important in urban regeneration, particularly in relation to municipal and regional planning. There is plenty of evidence showing how citizen engagement can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development at local, regional, and national levels. Yet, there is varied availability of data or information and indicators measuring the effects of solutions and progress towards urban sustainability.
This Research Topic aims to discuss citizen engagement methods and approaches, their performance in enabling better outcomes, and broader changes to governance that they may drive. Authors are encouraged to explore these, in the form of Original Research and Reviews, on the following topics:
• Citizen engagement methods and approaches for sustainable urban transitions
• Blue-green infrastructure & nature-based solutions for sustainable urban transitions
• The role of citizen participation in the SDGs
• Drivers and barriers of sustainable cities development
• Injustice and inequality in urban sustainability transitions
• Mobility and compact city vs. decentralized solutions
• Sustainable land management and development
