The Future of Sustainable Urban Planning

The world is in the midst of an unprecedented transformation. For the first time in history, more people live in cities than in rural areas. By 2050, nearly seven out of ten people will call an urban area home. This massive demographic shift places cities at the very center of the global sustainability challenge. They are engines of opportunity and innovation, but also sites of inequality, environmental stress, and climate vulnerability. As the climate crisis accelerates, the stakes of urban planning have never been higher. The choices made in city design, infrastructure, housing, and governance will determine not only the quality of urban life but the health of the planet itself. Will future cities deepen existing problems of sprawl, congestion, and carbon dependency, or will they emerge as models of resilience, equity, and regeneration? This course, The Future of Sustainable Urban Planning, explores this critical question. It examines the principles, practices, and possibilities shaping the next generation of cities. Moving from historical context to contemporary challenges, from cutting-edge innovations to speculative futures, it offers a comprehensive guide to understanding how urban environments can transition toward sustainability.