Global Change: Sustainable Urban and Regional Development

Dear Colleagues,

Global change is profoundly reshaping the spatial patterns, economic structures, and governance modes of urban and regional development. Challenges such as climate change, population mobility, resource and environmental constraints, digital transformation, industrial restructuring, and social inequality have made urban and regional development increasingly complex and uncertain. In this context, achieving greener, more inclusive, resilient, and coordinated urban and regional development has become a critical topic in sustainability research. Sustainable urban and regional development not only focuses on economic growth and spatial expansion but also emphasizes efficient resource utilization, ecological protection, social equity, accessibility of public services, and the comprehensive enhancement of regional governance capacity.

This Special Issue aims to explore the theories, methodologies, and practical pathways for sustainable urban and regional development under the context of global change. We particularly welcome studies examining how global change affects urbanization processes, regional economic disparities, land-use transformation, infrastructure allocation, public health, ecological security, and social well-being, as well as analyses of urban and regional systems’ adaptive capacities, transformation mechanisms, and policy responses at different scales. Through interdisciplinary perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to advance the understanding of sustainable urban and regional development mechanisms and provide scientific support for policy-making, planning practices, and governance innovation.

This Special Issue will supplement existing literature on sustainable development, urban studies, and regional economics. On one hand, it emphasizes reinterpreting the dynamic mechanisms of urban and regional development under global change; on the other hand, it encourages the use of quantitative assessments, spatial analysis, policy simulation, case studies, and integrated governance frameworks to measure and monitor sustainability performance. By integrating socio-economic, ecological, spatial planning, and public policy perspectives, this Special Issue aims to contribute theoretically and empirically to advancing sustainable development goals, enhancing urban and regional resilience, and promoting equitable transformation.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews addressing, but not limited to, the following:

• Mechanisms of sustainable urban and regional development under global change;
• Urbanization, regional imbalance, and spatial restructuring;
• Carbon neutrality strategies, peak carbon, and urban low-carbon transitions;
• Clean energy utilization, green growth, and regional sustainable competitiveness;
• Quality-oriented new urbanization and high-quality urban development;
• Urban regeneration, redevelopment of existing spaces, and sustainable spatial governance;
• Healthy city development, public health, livable environments, and resident well-being;
• Urban environment, residents’ health behaviors, and urban sustainability;
• Planning of sports facilities, community fitness spaces, and health-promoting urban development;
• Climate adaptation, urban resilience, and regional risk management;
• Green infrastructure, land-use transformation, and ecological protection;
• Digital transformation, innovation, and low-carbon urban development;
• Public services, social equity, and quality of life in urban and rural areas;
• Regional economic growth, industrial transformation, and sustainable development pathways;
• Sustainability indicators, assessment tools, and monitoring methods;
• Urban and regional governance, policy evaluation, and planning practices;
• Cross-scale, cross-regional, and interdisciplinary comparative studies on sustainability.

We look forward to receiving your high-quality contributions.

Prof. Dr. Shanlang Lin
Dr. Ruofei Lin
Dr. Junpei Huang
Dr. Zeyu Lin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.