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Article

Integrated Analysis of Urban Planning, Energy, and Decarbonization Through a Systematic and Multivariate Approach, Identifying Research Trends in Sustainability in Latin America

by
Cristian Cuji
1,*,†,
Luis Tipán
1,†,
Monica Dazzini
2,† and
Jessica Guaman-Pozo
3,†
1
Electrical Engineering Department, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, South Campus, Av. Rumichaca and Av. M. Valverde, Quito 170702, Ecuador
2
Faculty of Socio-Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Architecture Department, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Parroquia Muyuna, Kilometro 7 via a Alto Tena, Tena 150101, Ecuador
3
National Directorate of Doctoral Studies, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Avenida 12 de Octubre 1076 y Vicente Ramón Roca, Quito 170525, Ecuador
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 5215; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115215
Submission received: 23 April 2025 / Revised: 18 May 2025 / Accepted: 30 May 2025 / Published: 5 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Increasing the Energy and Indoor Environmental Resilience of Buildings and Systems into the Future)
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Abstract

:
This study analyzes the intersection of energy, urban planning, decarbonization, and sustainability as a central axis for addressing urban development challenges in Latin America. A systematic search of the Scopus database selected 509 articles published between 2019 and 2024. The documents were thematically classified into urban planning (274), energy (79), and decarbonization (147), identifying only 10 studies that simultaneously integrate at least two of these dimensions in Latin American contexts. While this sample of 10 articles does not allow for generalizations about the region, the article selects representative cases to contextualize the type of research conducted, rather than offering extrapolable results. An exploratory multivariate analysis was applied to identify patterns, thematic gaps, and convergence trends, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of the set of key concepts and Hierarchical Clustering (HCC) to group terms according to their semantic proximity. These results are complemented by co-occurrence and thematic concentration maps generated from keywords extracted from the selected articles. The findings reveal a low level of integration among the topics analyzed, justifying the need to establish new lines of interdisciplinary research. The study proposes a replicable analytical tool that guides future regional research and contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

1. Introduction

Current urban planning, energy, and decarbonization needs pose significant global challenges, which vary dynamically between regions. Therefore, this article proposes a methodology combining a systematic literature review with a multivariate bibliometric analysis, focusing on the intersection of keywords. From a search of research articles in the Scopus database (2020–2024), 509 articles were selected using criteria based on the simultaneous presence of keywords in titles and descriptors. Subsequently, co-occurrence analysis techniques were applied using VOSviewer software, and an exploratory multivariate analysis was developed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering (HCC) to identify thematic patterns, conceptual gaps, and relationships between domains. This methodology allowed for the construction of a replicable model that systematizes scientific trends and guides future research on urban sustainability with a Latin American focus. This is illustrated in Figure 1 using a methodological flowchart.
The focus is on Latin America, a region marked by rapid urban growth, social inequality, and high vulnerability to climate change. According to João Carlos N. Bittencourt, these factors increase emergency exposure, necessitating data-driven approaches to improve urban planning and response [1]. Urban planning is essential for achieving sustainable cities, but combining energy efficiency with decarbonization remains challenging, especially in resource-limited contexts. Moving toward a low-carbon economy requires technological innovation and new approaches to urban planning [2,3,4]. Energy, vital for development, is also one of the most significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonizing the energy sector is essential to mitigating climate change, but it must be performed with attention to economic and social needs. This is emphasized in the work of Georgiana Balaban, who highlights that the high concentration of energy consumption in urban areas and the lack of efficient integration of renewable energy exacerbate vulnerability to climate change, making the development of more resilient and sustainable infrastructure crucial [5,6,7].
In Figure 2, a Venn model is shown, representing thematic integration where sustainability is defined as the convergence between urban planning, energy, and decarbonization, with the ecological footprint being the central indicator reflecting their comprehensive interaction [8,9]. In this way, sustainability emerges as the point of convergence of these three axes, highlighting the importance of balanced strategies that optimize resources, reduce environmental impacts, and promote resilient urban environments [10,11,12]. This study is framed within an approach oriented toward the technical analysis of the relationship between urban planning, energy, and decarbonization in the context of sustainability. Its main objective is to identify research opportunities in these areas, based on the thematic and methodological analysis of recent scientific production. While the relevance of complementary dimensions such as environmental and energy law, public policy, administration, and economics is recognized, these are beyond the scope of this work. However, they are proposed as future lines of research that could be integrated to strengthen a more holistic vision of sustainability in Latin America.

2. Methodology, Development, and Conceptualization

A systematic approach based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology was used. This methodology guides the selection and refinement of research articles with traceability and transparency criteria.

2.1. Applied Methodology and Selection Criteria

The search was conducted in the Scopus database, considering articles published between 2020 and 2024, with the occasional inclusion of a 2019 study due to its contextual relevance. Filters were applied for language (English, Spanish, and Portuguese) and for the appearance of the terms “urban planning”, “energy”, or “decarbonization” in the title, abstract, or keywords. Original articles, systematic reviews, and bibliometric analyses were included, excluding gray literature and documents without conceptual contributions. Although a geographic filter was not applied, only 10 studies directly related to Latin America were identified, which delimits the regional scope of the analysis. The final selection included only articles that integrated at least two or three key concepts, thus ensuring the thematic and regional relevance of the analyzed corpus and quantifying Latin American coverage.

2.2. Thematic Development

The thematic analysis begins by identifying the conceptual axes of the keywords. An example demonstrating the convergence between urban planning and infrastructure is the following study, which focuses on urban river restoration in Colombia. In this country, 81% of the population resides in urban areas. Reviewing the land use plans of seven cities, they identify that only 14% of the content addresses green and blue infrastructure and that water bodies represent between 4.8% and 10.7%. While all towns consider river restoration actions, only 42% incorporate comprehensive approaches considering ecological connectivity and spatial justice criteria. Green and blue infrastructure includes parks, ecological corridors, green roofs, rivers, wetlands, and sustainable drainage systems [13].
The results provide key insights into sustainable urban planning, territorial planning, and climate resilience, which are essential for future research that can include energy alternatives to enrich the results of Pradilla and Hack. Evaluating studies and projects on energy, urban planning, sustainability, and decarbonization requires quantifiable indicators for rigorous analysis. Urban density reflects land-use efficiency, access to renewable energy indicates progress in the energy transition, and CO2 emissions per capita measure progress toward decarbonization. These elements justify the use of multivariate analysis approaches [14,15,16].
Table 1 summarizes the key variables identified in the review. While not all are addressed in detail, their inclusion provides a valuable basis for future research focused on specific aspects [14,17,18].
The categories of urban planning, energy, decarbonization, and sustainability share variables with common approaches, particularly in per capita indicators, resource efficiency, and links to urban quality of life. This convergence justifies the use of multivariate analysis and statistical methods to develop integrated forecasts.
  • Per capita measurement: For urban planning, energy, and decarbonization purposes, these indicators express values per inhabitant (inhabitants/km2, kWh/inhabitant, tons CO2/inhabitant), reflecting the individual impact on the environment and facilitating comparisons between cities or regions [19,20,21].
  • Efficient use of resources: Sustainability and energy share metrics that seek to measure the consumption and efficiency of land, water, and electricity use, such as the urban ecological footprint (hectares/inhabitants) or the cost of energy production (kWh/USD) [17,22,23,24].
  • Environmental impact and resilience: Decarbonization and sustainability indicators often relate to emissions and pollution levels (kgCO2/kWh, µg/m3 PM2.5, recycling rates), which are essential for assessing the environmental impact of urban growth and transitions to more sustainable energy systems [25,26].
Comparing any of these variables can lead to a new study of sustainability issues in the context of urban planning, energy, and decarbonization. Urban and energy development seek to optimize resources, improve energy efficiency, and reduce emissions, thus ensuring quality of life without compromising resources or environmental stability [27,28].
From this perspective, some ideas are:
  • Sustainable urban planning involves planning cities with balanced density, efficient access to basic services, and low-carbon urban mobility, avoiding urban sprawl and promoting green spaces [13,21].
  • Sustainable energy focuses on transitioning to renewable sources, reducing energy intensity, and equitable access to additional, clean energy resources [10,29,30].
  • Decarbonization acts as a cross-cutting priority, promoting lower per capita CO2 emissions, reducing carbon footprints in key sectors, and improving air quality, decreasing reliance on fossil fuels [25,31,32].
To achieve resilient cities with affordable energy and low emissions, sustainability requires balancing economic growth, efficient resource use, and reduced environmental impact. Therefore, it is essential to develop and deepen these thematic areas [33,34].

2.3. Transition and Diversification of Energy Sources

Dependence on fossil fuels remains one of the main obstacles to advancing decarbonization. This compromises air quality, public health, and the region’s sustainable development goals. Diversifying the energy mix toward renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower is essential to achieving a transition aligned with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) [35,36,37]. Added to this is the need to develop energy storage infrastructure that guarantees a stable supply and facilitates the integration of clean technologies. Financial incentives for households and businesses can accelerate the adoption of sustainable solutions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels [1,28,38,39].
These approaches improve climate resilience and open up opportunities for social inclusion and territorial equity. The integration of sustainable urban planning and the transition to renewable energy constitutes the strategic axis for moving toward low-carbon urban models. Based on these pillars, this study bases its systematic review of the scientific literature to identify gaps, proposals, and possible scenarios to contribute to the development of sustainable, resilient, and equitable spaces [39,40,41].

3. Results

A co-occurrence analysis was performed on a total of 509 articles indexed in the Scopus database, filtered by keywords such as “urban planning”, “energy”, and “decarbonization”. To ensure the relevance of the analyzed terms, VOSviewer software (v. 1.6.19) was used with the keyword co-occurrence approach, employing the “author keywords” field. A minimum occurrence threshold of five ( n ≥ 5 ) was established, which reduced semantic noise and focused the analysis on the most representative terms of the total number of studies analyzed. A manual filtering process was also applied to eliminate irrelevant stop words for this research, including names of countries, regions, public and private institutions, as well as generic terms without analytical value (e.g., “study”, “case”, “country”).
As a result, a network structured into five thematic clusters was generated, represented by different colors in Figure 3:
  • Blue cluster (Technological/Methodological): Includes terms such as system, indicator, performance, and organization, reflecting a technical approach focused on the measurement, modeling, and evaluation of urban and energy systems [9,16,39].
  • Green Cluster (Applied Sustainability): Groups terms such as sustainability, data, sustainable city, and operation, suggesting an integrated approach to the design and analysis of sustainable cities [21,41],
  • Red Cluster (Projection and Planning): Contains terms such as future, project, time, and neighborhood, associated with urban projections, territorial planning, and prospective studies [20,42,43].
  • Purple Cluster (Spatial Structure): Focuses on area, architecture, and space, linked to the configuration of the built environment and its interaction with energy and environmental planning [42,44].
  • Yellow Cluster (Mobility and Transition): Includes mobility and access, related to urban infrastructure, access to services, and energy transition [43,45].
This co-occurrence analysis highlights essential gaps in the specialized literature by revealing the low direct representation of concepts linked to urban planning, energy, and decarbonization in the core of the semantic network. Particularly in the Latin American context, these gaps reflect structural challenges such as uneven urbanization, socio-spatial segregation, and growing vulnerability to climate change, which disproportionately affect the most exposed populations. The limited thematic coordination around integrated mitigation and adaptation policies reinforces the need for systemic approaches to link sustainability, equity, and urban resilience within a single framework.

3.1. About Urban Planning

The analysis identified 273 articles related to urban planning in the context of energy and decarbonization, revealing a limited number of works focused on these topics, especially in regions such as Latin America. The studies highlight the lack of integration between sustainability and resilience in urban planning as the main challenge in a scenario where more than 50% of cities face accelerated and disorderly growth and almost 40% of the urban population lives in conditions of socio-spatial segregation. This problem is reflected in Figure 4, where urban planning is the most frequent topic (≈145) mentions, followed by sustainability, energy/renewables, and planning, while decarbonization and resilience have a very low presence (≈3 and ≈10, respectively).
These results confirm an unbalanced trend in the scientific literature: urban planning is studied in isolation, lacking sufficient connection to the energy and climate components necessary to move toward truly sustainable cities.
  • Medellín City, represents a paradigmatic model of social urbanism, where infrastructure, architectural design, and citizen participation have been key to reducing urban inequality. The Northeastern Comprehensive Urban Project (PUI), led by Alejandro Echeverri, implemented integrated mobility, education, public spaces, and security strategies to improve the quality of life in marginalized neighborhoods. Financing through Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) made it possible to avoid external dependencies and ensure constant investment in urban regeneration projects [46].
The experience of Medellin City shows how structured urban planning, such as electrified public transport and renewable energy in Medellín, can effectively integrate urban planning, energy, and decarbonization. Furthermore, developing sustainable environments focused on children and vulnerable groups represents another key avenue for promoting more inclusive and sustainable cities.
  • Another study highlights the importance of urban design in school environments to promote sustainable mobility and child autonomy. In their study of Logroño, they identify deficiencies in the infrastructure that promote active mobility (pedestrian and bicycle), public transport, and recreational spaces. They note that the dominant urban model prioritizes motorized traffic, which limits child safety and well-being in these educational spaces [17].
Both studies agree that good urban planning drives sustainable, low-carbon cities. While they differ in scale—one proposes electrified public transport and the other school interventions—the two approaches are complementary. This is reflected in Figure 4, where urban planning predominates, but issues such as decarbonization and resilience remain poorly addressed [46].

3.2. About the Energy Transition

The analysis identified 79 energy studies linked to urban planning and decarbonization, revealing limited and fragmented production. As Figure 5 shows, the most frequent topics are urban planning, sustainability, and energy/renewables (≈140 mentions), reflecting a consolidated interest in the relationship between renewable energy and urban sustainability.
However, key concepts for a comprehensive energy transition, such as resilience, mobility, and decarbonization, are underrepresented (approximately two mentions), as is the limited coverage in Latin America. On a technical level, only 35% of energy in urban areas comes from renewable sources, and less than 20% of rural areas have adequate infrastructure, confirming the challenges that remain for the full integration of these approaches.
  • A study proposes infrastructure ecology as an approach that integrates energy, water, and waste to maximize environmental and economic benefits. An example is the Itaipú Binacional project in Brazil, where the combination of hydroelectric power and biogas has supplied 2200 households and reduced emissions, demonstrating the potential of this model to drive energy self-sufficiency and decarbonization at the local scale [47].
In contrast, other studies emphasize decentralized energy systems as engines of development, technically known as distributed generation, bringing energy generation closer to end-users. Such approaches have demonstrated success in developed countries, where energy demand requires greater innovation and creativity
  • Another case highlight the need for modern and efficient urban energy systems to achieve carbon neutrality. A model with 25 indicators assessing supply, efficiency, and low-carbon transportation will be applied in Wenzhou. The results show an increase from 63.56 points in 2020 to a projected 85.06 in 2030, underscoring the urgent need to increase the use of renewable energy and improve the integration of electricity, gas, and heat [48].
The two previous studies highlight the need to diversify and integrate energy systems for practical urban sustainability. However, as shown in Figure 5, key concepts such as infrastructure, resilience, and decarbonization are underrepresented, indicating that, despite existing proposals, a proper integration of these approaches in research on renewable energy and urban planning is still lacking [47,48].

3.3. About Decarbonization

Figure 6 shows that, among the 147 studies analyzed on decarbonization, the term “urban/urbanism” predominates with approximately 120 mentions. In contrast, terms such as “decarbonization”, “mobility”, and “resilience” barely exceed five mentions each. Intermediate topics such as sustainability, energy/renewables, and planning have a moderate frequency, highlighting an unbalanced focus in the literature.
This quantitative pattern coincides with the results of the qualitative analysis, which indicates that only 8% of decarbonization policies are adapted to the local context and that 65% of urban areas still rely on fossil fuels. The limited presence of key terms such as “decarbonization” reflects the urgent need to strengthen strategies that consider the social, economic, and territorial realities of each country. Therefore, the combination of contextualized decarbonization and the circular economy is emerging as a key path toward an energy transition that is not only environmentally sustainable but also socially equitable and viable in regions such as Latin America.

3.4. About the Latin American Context

Finally, in this case, Figure 7 shows that, among the 10 studies analyzed in the Latin American context, urban planning is the most frequently addressed topic with approximately four mentions. At the same time, infrastructure, resilience, mobility, and decarbonization appear with only approximately one mention each. Topics such as sustainability, energy/renewables, and planning have an intermediate representation with approximately two mentions.
These results reflect limited regional scientific output that integrates urban planning, energy, and decarbonization approaches in a balanced way. Furthermore, structural challenges are identified: 60% of the cities analyzed experience uneven urbanization, and only 25% have effective climate adaptation strategies. This limited presence of key terms in the literature highlights the urgent need to strengthen research prioritizing socio-spatial equity, access to sustainable services, and urban resilience in Latin America.

3.5. Comparative Analysis

It is essential to compare the results to identify differences or similarities. Figure 8 compares the frequency of key themes in four areas: Urban planning, renewable energy, decarbonization, and the Latin American context. Urban planning presents the highest concentration of themes, with up to 145 mentions in “sustainability”. In contrast, in the Latin American context, the number of mentions does not exceed four in any area. In decarbonization, despite being the central focus, themes such as resilience and decarbonization barely reach five mentions each, reflecting a weak integration between these concepts.
The comparative analysis of topics related to urban planning, renewable energy, decarbonization, and the Latin American context reveals several critical challenges. Urban planning topics emerge as the most prevalent, reaching a score of 145 in urban planning, 40 in renewable energy, 120 in decarbonization, and 4.5 in the Latin American context. This indicates that urban planning is a central concern in all areas studied. However, the sustainability category also shows significant relevance, with 60 in urban planning, 20 in renewable energy, and 30 in decarbonization, underscoring the urgent need to integrate sustainability into urban and energy policies. On the other hand, infrastructure and mobility present much lower scores (20 and 5, respectively, in urban planning, and even lower in the different areas), highlighting the considerable challenges in implementing infrastructure that supports sustainable mobility and energy efficiency. Finally, decarbonization is underrepresented in the Latin American context, with a score of just one, suggesting that it is an emerging challenge that has not yet been fully addressed in the region. Together, these results emphasize the need for integrated and multidisciplinary approaches to overcome challenges related to urbanization, sustainability, and the transition to clean energy sources.

3.5.1. Multivariate Comparative Analysis: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering (HCC)

The multivariate analysis applied in this study is based on the cross-analysis of key terms obtained through a structured literature review, emphasizing urban planning, energy, decarbonization, and sustainability. From the processed metadata, a matrix of relative occurrence and thematic relationships was constructed, which was subsequently subjected to two complementary techniques presented in Figure 9: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering (HCC). PCA reduces the dimensionality of the set of variables, identifying the axes that explain most of the variance in the data. In parallel, HCC allows the concepts with the most excellent semantic proximity to be grouped using a similarity matrix.
  • Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
In the PCA graph (Figure 9, left), two principal components are identified:
Component 1 (x-axis): Represents a dimension associated with the scale of structural and strategic impact. the terms “urban/urbanism” (≈+145) and “planning” (≈+105) have the highest values. This reflects that these concepts are primarily approached from an operational perspective, linked to territorial design, resource distribution, and physical urban growth. In contrast “decarbonization”, “mobility”, and “infrastructure” are at the negative end ( ≈ −50–−10), indicating a more technical approach, with an emphasis on operational efficiency, emissions mitigation, and functional systems.
Component 2 (y-axis): Reflects a dimension of integrative depth and a systemic approach. On this axis, the term “sustainable” has the highest value (≈+22), demonstrating its transversal and normative treatment within academic discourse. It is followed by energy/renewable and planning (≈+8–+10), suggesting that these variables are approached with a greater strategic and conceptual burden. In contrast, urban/urbanism and decarbonization have low or negative values on this axis, implying that they are treated in the literature with a more technical, applied, or sectoral approach, and with less integration into broader systemic models.
  • Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA)
In the HCA dendrogram (Figure 9, right), concepts are grouped according to semantic similarity. Three main clusters are identified: a technical/operational cluster composed of mobility, decarbonization, resilience, and infrastructure, with proximity levels below 40 units; an environmental/strategic cluster composed of sustainable and energy/renewables, with a link distance of approximately 60; and a territorial planning cluster composed of planning and urban/urbanism, with a greater hierarchical separation (≈190), indicating its distance from the other variables.
  • Relationship between PCA and HCC
Both analyses agree in structuring the thematic field into three conceptual cores:
-
Urban operational management (infrastructure, mobility, resilience);
-
Sustainability and energy;
-
Territorial governance.
This methodological consistency reinforces the robustness of the identified patterns. However, divergence is observed in the representation of “decarbonization”: in the PCA, it is positioned alongside technical variables with low conceptual integration, while in the HCC, it is closely grouped with “mobility” and “resilience”, suggesting its function as an operational connector rather than a structural axis in the current literature.
  • Research Opportunities
Both approaches point to a research niche in the limited articulation between decarbonization and urban planning. Despite the relevance of both concepts, their thematic separation highlights an academic gap that limits the development of effective urban strategies aimed at carbon neutrality. Furthermore, the peripheral treatment of resilience and infrastructure indicates the need to develop integrative approaches that link these variables with energy planning and urban sustainability models, especially in Latin American contexts. These findings confirm that while urban planning remains a central topic of academic discourse, energy integration and decarbonization strategies have yet to be fully articulated within a holistic framework. This result emphasizes the need to promote more integrated interdisciplinary frameworks, especially in public policy agendas and sustainable urban planning processes. Furthermore, the empirical evidence reinforces the urgency of aligning these approaches with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), in pursuit of a more equitable, resilient, and low-carbon urban future for the region.

3.5.2. Analysis of the Coexistence Between Urban Planning, Energy, and Decarbonization

Figure 10 represents a segment of research highlighting the co-occurrence among key terms related to energy, decarbonization, urban planning, and sustainability, all of which are central elements in studying sustainable urban development. The map, created by VOS viewer, shows terms based on their frequency and relationships within scientific publications. Notable terms such as “regional planning”, “sustainable development”, and “urban planning” hold central positions within this knowledge framework. The colors group related themes, clearly showing the interconnectedness among urban planning, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation, and innovative city development. This analysis demonstrates how these areas converge within current research, emphasizing the importance of integrated strategies for achieving urban sustainability.
The processing generated a network structured into six thematic groups distinguishable by color:
  • Purple group (regional planning and sustainable development): This group dominates the center of the network with nodes such as regional planning and sustainable development, indicating a predominant focus on long-term territorial policies linked to structural sustainability.
  • Red group (energy efficiency and architecture): This group includes terms such as energy efficiency, architectural planning, and solar energy, reflecting lines of research associated with clean technologies, resource efficiency, and environmental design.
  • Blue group (urban planning, energy, and urban systems): This group articulates terms such as urban planning, energy, urban area, and strategic framework, linking urban design with energy and regulatory aspects.
  • Green group (emerging technologies and smart cities): This group contains nodes such as smart cities, the Internet of Things, and big data, highlighting the influence of digitalization on urban transitions.
  • Orange group (climate change and governance): This group includes concepts such as climate change, sustainability, and governance, emphasizing climate adaptation, public policy, and resilience.
  • Yellow cluster (transport and urban mobility): Integrates topics such as transport, mobility, and urban space, associated with emissions, road planning, and management of urban flows.
The prominent presence of high-interest terms such as “sustainable development”, “urban planning”, and “climate change”, located at the core of the network due to their high frequency and connectivity, confirms the importance of these topics. On the other hand, less central issues such as “decarbonization” and “equity”, whose low presence in search frequency reflects a weak connection between urban sustainability, climate justice, and the energy transition. This visualization validates the need to generate research that articulates urban planning, emissions reduction, and energy strategies through adaptive approaches for each context.

3.5.3. Energy, Latin American Context and Decarbonization

Figure 11 shows the results of the co-occurrence analysis applied to a subset of 10 articles specifically focused on Latin America. For this exercise, author keywords were used and a minimum occurrence threshold of three (n ≥ 3) was established, adjusting for the low density of publications in the region. Only terms with direct conceptual relevance were retained, excluding stop words such as country names, institutional entities, and generic expressions without thematic contribution.
The resulting mapping identified four main clusters, represented by colors:
  • Red cluster (mitigation and energy transition): Includes terms such as climate change, renewable energy, and alternative energy, indicating a growing focus on climate change mitigation and energy diversification.
  • Green cluster (urban planning and urban sustainability): Groups terms such as urban planning, urban development, urban growth, and sustainability, reflecting the interest in sustainable territorial planning and controlled urban expansion processes.
  • Yellow cluster (energy efficiency and utilization): Brings together terms such as energy efficiency and energy utilization, linked to energy efficiency strategies and resource utilization in urban environments.
  • Blue cluster (regional planning): Focuses on regional planning, a concept that maintains a structuring role in territorial and governance approaches.

4. Multidisciplinary Discussion to Address the Challenges of Sustainable Urban Planning

The challenges presented in this study, such as urban sprawl, socio-spatial segregation, dependence on fossil fuels, and the lack of infrastructure for sustainable mobility, demonstrate that solutions cannot emerge from a single discipline. Addressing this complexity requires a rigorous multidisciplinary approach, integrating engineering, urban planning, environmental sciences, economics, and public policy knowledge. Only through this academic coordination will it be possible to design and implement integrated strategies that successfully respond to the challenges of sustainable urban development in Latin America. It is essential to summarize that a development objective must justify challenges and proposals for change or innovation. Table 2 below indicates, by category, the challenges, proposals, and related SDGs.
Finally, the need for a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the challenges of sustainable urban development in Latin America is emphasized, highlighting the coordinated role of various disciplines. Environmental engineering focuses on technologies to mitigate impacts and conserve resources, while electrical engineering promotes clean and integrated energy networks. Systems control and big data promote the optimization of resource use through real-time monitoring. Administrative sciences facilitate the management of sustainable projects, and civil engineering develops resilient infrastructure. Architecture, in coordination with engineering, seeks efficient and sustainable designs. Law, for its part, provides regulatory frameworks that promote energy transition and clean mobility, complemented by feasibility analyses from an economic perspective. Finally, communication ensures the dissemination and social understanding of sustainable processes.
Each of these areas of knowledge can replicate this methodology to identify thematic gaps, specific needs, and opportunities for innovation in their field. By applying this analytical approach from their respective areas of expertise, it is possible to guide research toward contextualized and strategic solutions that respond to the challenges of sustainable urban development that have not yet been comprehensively addressed.
While this study focuses on establishing a methodological framework for analyzing the intersection of urban planning, energy, decarbonization, and sustainability, it recognizes the importance of incorporating emerging technologies into future research. Topics such as the application of artificial intelligence in urban analysis, the use of blockchain for energy trading, distributed generation, and bioclimatic architecture represent significant opportunities to further explore the transition toward more sustainable and resilient urban models, particularly in Latin American contexts.

5. Conclusions

Multivariate analysis reveals a marked centrality of urban planning in the scientific literature. Urban planning achieves a value of ≈145 in Component 1, linked to the operational and territorial dimension, and planning, with ≈105, confirming its predominance in applied spatial planning approaches. In contrast, sustainable ranks as the term with the highest value in Component 2 (≈+22), reflecting its integrative nature within broad conceptual frameworks. Key variables such as infrastructure (≈20) and mobility (≈5) are underrepresented, indicating limited attention to the structural aspects of urban sustainability. Particularly critical is the case of decarbonization, which registers a value close to one in studies with a Latin American focus, revealing a weak connection between urban planning and climate mitigation strategies. This thematic fragmentation, also evident in the hierarchical grouping, reinforces the need to consolidate interdisciplinary approaches that integrate urban planning, energy transition, and sustainability, adapted to the specific conditions of Latin America.
The transition to sustainable urban development requires a multidisciplinary approach that integrates engineering, architecture, the environment, and law, enabling the implementation of efficient and resilient solutions. At the same time, public policies play a fundamental role in encouraging the use of renewable energy, promoting sustainable mobility, and strengthening environmental education. Combining these approaches will ensure cities that are more equitable, efficient, and adapted to the challenges of climate change.
The results highlight a strategic intersection between urban planning, energy, and decarbonization, which is particularly critical in the Latin American context. Disruptive urban growth, present in 45% of the cities analyzed, along with an energy infrastructure still dominated by fossil fuels in over 60% of cases, and the lack of adequate sustainable mobility systems in 70% of urban environments create a landscape of structural emergencies. However, these limitations also represent a clear opportunity to promote applied research and the development of innovative solutions. The transition to renewable energy is not only technically and environmentally viable but must be integrated as a cross-cutting axis in urban and territorial planning processes. Promoting interdisciplinary approaches will allow progress toward sustainable, resilient, and low-carbon energy models capable of responding to current urban challenges and laying the foundations for more equitable and balanced development in Latin America.
One of the most relevant findings of this study is the low representation of the term “decarbonization” in the analyzed scientific literature, especially in studies focused on Latin America, where its thematic value barely reaches minimum levels (approximately one). This low presence, confirmed both in the Principal Component Analysis and in the Hierarchical Clustering, reflects a fragmentation in the integration of mitigation strategies within urban planning frameworks. However, this gap also represents a critical opportunity to foster innovative proposals that articulate urban planning, clean energy, and sustainability. The incorporation of renewable sources and the promotion of sustainable mobility within urban design not only contribute to improving air quality but also allow progress towards achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Furthermore, adapting decarbonization processes to local contexts through specific policies and circular economy models is key to optimizing resource use and reducing structural emissions, in line with the objectives of SDG 13 (Climate Action). This study reaffirms the need to reorient regional research toward integrative approaches that position decarbonization as a cross-cutting axis of resilient urban development in Latin America.
The main challenges of urban sustainability in Latin America, such as uncontrolled growth, energy inequality, and inefficient decarbonization policies, require innovative proposals integrated with the SDGs. The presentation Table 2 summarizes these problems and solutions aligned with sustainability frameworks, providing a strategic foundation for future applied research focused on resilient urban development in the region.

Author Contributions

C.C. conceptualized the study, analyzed the data, and wrote the initial draft. L.T. analyzed the data, revised the draft, and edited the manuscript. M.D. conceptualized the study and analyzed the data, and J.G.-P. conceptualized the study and analyzed the data. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Universidad Politécnica Salesiana and GIREI—Smart Grid Research Group.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. Methodological flowchart.
Figure 1. Methodological flowchart.
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Figure 2. Illustration of sustainability.
Figure 2. Illustration of sustainability.
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Figure 3. Thematic analysis of energy, decarbonization, and urban planning.
Figure 3. Thematic analysis of energy, decarbonization, and urban planning.
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Figure 4. Topics related to urban planning.
Figure 4. Topics related to urban planning.
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Figure 5. Topics for renewable energy.
Figure 5. Topics for renewable energy.
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Figure 6. Topics related to decarbonization.
Figure 6. Topics related to decarbonization.
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Figure 7. Topics related to the Latin American context.
Figure 7. Topics related to the Latin American context.
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Figure 8. Comparison of topics across different areas.
Figure 8. Comparison of topics across different areas.
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Figure 9. Comparison between PCA and HCC.
Figure 9. Comparison between PCA and HCC.
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Figure 10. Analysis of urban planning, energy, and decarbonization.
Figure 10. Analysis of urban planning, energy, and decarbonization.
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Figure 11. Analytical mapping of energy, decarbonization, and the Latin American context.
Figure 11. Analytical mapping of energy, decarbonization, and the Latin American context.
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Table 1. Urban sustainability indicators.
Table 1. Urban sustainability indicators.
CategoryIndicatorUnitDescription
Urban planningUrban population density[inhabitants/km2]Number of people per square kilometer in urban areas.
Urban green area per capita[m2/inhabitant]The amount of green space available per person in urban areas.
Public transport accessibility index[% population-covered]Percentage of the population with access to public transport within a given radius.
EnergyPer capita energy consumption[kWh/inhabitant] (year, month, hour)Average energy consumption per person within a given timeframe (yearly, monthly, hourly).
Share of renewable energy%Percentage of total energy generated from renewable sources.
Energy production cost[USD/kWh]Monetary cost per unit of energy produced or consumed, e.g., cost per kilowatt hour.
DecarbonizationCO2 emissions per capita[tons] [CO2/inhabitant]Amount of [CO2] emitted per person over a specific area, per year, month, day, or hour.
Carbon footprint of the
electricity sector		tons of CO2/MWhEmissions generated per unit of
electricity produced.
Emission factor of the
energy mix		kg CO2/kWhCO2 emissions associated with electricity generation per unit of
energy produced.
SustainabilityUrban ecological footprint[hectares/inhabitant]Biologically productive area required to support resource consumption.
Air quality index[µg/m3] (PM2.5)Concentration of fine particulate matter in the air, indicating pollution levels.
Access to drinking water
index		%Proportion of the population with safe access to drinking water.
Per capita water consumption[liters/inhabitant/day]The amount of water used per person per day.
Urban solid waste recycling rate%Percentage of urban waste recycled relative to total waste produced.
Table 2. Urban sustainability challenges and innovative proposals aligned with SDGs.
Table 2. Urban sustainability challenges and innovative proposals aligned with SDGs.
CategoryChallengesInnovative ProposalsRelated SDG
Urban/UrbanismUnplanned growth, socio-spatial segregationIntegrated urban planning with renewable energySDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SustainableLack of green spaces, poor sustainability integrationDevelopment of green infrastructure and public spacesSDG 15: Life on Land
Energy/RenewableFossil fuel dependency, unequal energy accessInfrastructure for renewable energy, equitable energy policiesSDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
DecarbonizationCO2 emissions, ineffective decarbonization policiesContext-adapted decarbonization, circular economySDG 13: Climate Action
MobilityUnsustainable transport, lack of mobility infrastructureDevelopment of infrastructure for electric and sustainable mobilitySDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Cuji, C.; Tipán, L.; Dazzini, M.; Guaman-Pozo, J. Integrated Analysis of Urban Planning, Energy, and Decarbonization Through a Systematic and Multivariate Approach, Identifying Research Trends in Sustainability in Latin America. Sustainability 2025, 17, 5215. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115215

AMA Style

Cuji C, Tipán L, Dazzini M, Guaman-Pozo J. Integrated Analysis of Urban Planning, Energy, and Decarbonization Through a Systematic and Multivariate Approach, Identifying Research Trends in Sustainability in Latin America. Sustainability. 2025; 17(11):5215. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115215

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cuji, Cristian, Luis Tipán, Monica Dazzini, and Jessica Guaman-Pozo. 2025. "Integrated Analysis of Urban Planning, Energy, and Decarbonization Through a Systematic and Multivariate Approach, Identifying Research Trends in Sustainability in Latin America" Sustainability 17, no. 11: 5215. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115215

APA Style

Cuji, C., Tipán, L., Dazzini, M., & Guaman-Pozo, J. (2025). Integrated Analysis of Urban Planning, Energy, and Decarbonization Through a Systematic and Multivariate Approach, Identifying Research Trends in Sustainability in Latin America. Sustainability, 17(11), 5215. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115215

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