Urban Transitions and Dynamics: Cultural, Ecological, Digital and Degrowth

Dear Colleague,

During the last decades, climate change and biodiversity loss have been highlighted as major causes of the environmental crisis, impacting the health and wellbeing of citizens and highlighting the need to rethink current urban systems. With 74% of people living in urban areas in Europe, cities are experiencing rapid changes. One of the key challenges faced is how to co-create sustainable cities that are planned around people’s needs while reducing the impact of the means to achieve those needs. At the same time, the current wave of technological innovation and the broad application of information and communication technologies are changing private and public services, industrial production, and individual behaviors. Cultural and digital transformations are changing social relations, working styles, mobility, and shopping patterns, with their effects being particularly felt on cities, which should also be taken as drivers of these changes. Ecological and digital transitions pose major challenges and opportunities for cities worldwide. Their performance depends on how different sectors and agents interact, both in the construction of a greener and technologically more advanced territory, and their contribution to build a fair society on an increasingly urban world.
Based on the proposed topic, the special issue will look on theoretical and empirical analysis of recent urban dynamics, transitions and its impact on citizens health and wellbeing. Developing innovative approaches for urban sustainable development will be important to provide answers to the urban challenges identified before. Moreover, the publications will provide evaluations of urban problems and solutions in different parts of the world, which might be useful for more efficient public policies.

All themes addressing recent urban dynamics and experiences will be welcomed, namely those related to:

• Positive Energy Districts
• The 15-Minute City
• Circular Urban Economies
• Area-based initiatives for sustainable urban development
• Degrowth actions
• Cultural and digital projects for local development

Dr. Pedro Chamusca
Dr. André Carmo
Dr. Ricardo Almendra
Dr. Patrícia Pereira
Guest Editors

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