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Innovation and Sustainability in Urban Planning and Governance
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Innovation and Sustainability in Urban Planning and Governance

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 2522

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Charles Chang-Yu Hong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Global & Interdisciplinary Studies, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
Interests: urban governance; arts and humanities in city governance; tourism governance; urban theory; urban sociology; urban network; water governance; resident perceptions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to delve into the multifaceted realm of urban governance within the context of sustainable development. Urban governance encompasses various aspects such as policy-making, decision-making processes, institutional frameworks, and citizen participation that shape the functioning and development of cities. The scope of this Special Issue extends to examining the intricate interplay between urban governance and diverse thematic areas, including arts and humanities, tourism, urban theory, sociology, city networks, water management, and resident perceptions.

Through a multidisciplinary lens, we seek to unravel the complexities of urban governance and its implications for fostering sustainable urban development. This Special Issue contributes to the existing literature by providing fresh insights and perspectives on urban governance in relation to sustainable development. By synthesizing knowledge from various disciplines, including urban studies, sociology, political science, and economics, this Special Issue offers a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics shaping urban governance. Furthermore, the exploration of themes such as arts and humanities in city governance, tourism governance, and resident perceptions adds novel dimensions to the discourse on urban governance, enriching the existing body of literature with diverse perspectives.

Dr. Charles Chang-Yu Hong
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind 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.

Keywords

  • urban governance
  • arts and humanities in city governance
  • tourism governance
  • urban theory
  • urban sociology
  • urban network
  • water governance
  • resident perceptions

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 18197 KiB  
Article
The Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Influence Mechanisms of Intercity Cooperation Networks from the Perspective of Sustainable Regional Development: A Case Study of the Pearl River–Xijiang Economic Belt, China
by Ruochen Shi, Changsheng Sun, Chunying Zhang and Zhenwei Peng
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4709; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104709 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 351
Abstract
Intercity cooperation networks are critical for addressing regional imbalances and advancing sustainable regional development, yet existing studies typically focus on specific functional domains, rather than the overall intercity cooperation network. To bridge this gap, this study examines the intercity cooperation network in the [...] Read more.
Intercity cooperation networks are critical for addressing regional imbalances and advancing sustainable regional development, yet existing studies typically focus on specific functional domains, rather than the overall intercity cooperation network. To bridge this gap, this study examines the intercity cooperation network in the Pearl River–Xijiang Economic Belt (21 cities, 2014–2023), analyzing its spatio-temporal evolution and influence mechanisms through Social Network Analysis (SNA) and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results reveal the following: (1) the network has undergone three policy-driven development stages: initial–accelerated–steady; (2) a spatial pattern of “east—dominant, west—weak” has emerged, shaped by the radiating influence of core cities; and (3) institutional proximity and cooperation investment are key drivers of network formation, while geographical and organizational proximity exhibit negative impacts. These findings underscore the need for related regional development strategies to foster a more vital and open cooperation network. Overall, this study deepens the understanding of intercity cooperation by revealing its macro-level patterns and influence mechanisms, and provides practical implications for policymakers committed to promoting sustainable regional development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainability in Urban Planning and Governance)
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22 pages, 2075 KiB  
Article
Implications for Policy in South Korean Seafood Education via the Lens of the Social, Ecological, and Technological Systems (SETS) Model
by Heon-Dong Lee and Chang-Yu Hong
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4103; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094103 - 1 May 2025
Viewed by 436
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the impact of integrating the Social, Ecological, Technological Systems (SETS) keyword coding—which categorizes sustainability themes into social, ecological, and technological dimensions—into seafood consumption education programs. In this study, the SETS framework is utilized to conduct an analysis of [...] Read more.
This study aims to evaluate the impact of integrating the Social, Ecological, Technological Systems (SETS) keyword coding—which categorizes sustainability themes into social, ecological, and technological dimensions—into seafood consumption education programs. In this study, the SETS framework is utilized to conduct an analysis of the educational environment around the consumption of seafood in South Korea. Through the utilization of focus group interviews with industry professionals, the research reveals that the current educational framework on the consumption of seafood and dietary education has a substantial gap in its coverage. The study indicates a predominant focus on the social aspects (56.46%) of seafood consumption education among stakeholders, succeeded by the technological (28.26%) and ecological dimensions (15.28%). To enhance seafood dietary education, the study proposes two primary avenues: developing comprehensive seafood dietary education programs for diverse age demographics and establishing a training system for specialized professionals in seafood dietary education. Future research should refine the SETS approach and explore its broader application across food systems to further promote sustainable consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainability in Urban Planning and Governance)
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25 pages, 11406 KiB  
Article
Land-Use Transfer and Its Ecological Effects in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas: A Case Study of Nanjing, China
by Yinqiao Zhou, Wei Cao and Jiandong Zhou
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10615; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310615 - 4 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1026
Abstract
Rapid transformations in land use and land cover (LULC) serve as critical drivers influencing the eco-environmental quality in swiftly urbanizing areas. This study aims to assess and analyze the land-use transfer in Nanjing, China from 2003 to 2023 and its effects on ecological [...] Read more.
Rapid transformations in land use and land cover (LULC) serve as critical drivers influencing the eco-environmental quality in swiftly urbanizing areas. This study aims to assess and analyze the land-use transfer in Nanjing, China from 2003 to 2023 and its effects on ecological environment quality, utilizing the land expansion intensity (En), the land use composite index (LUCI), the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI), and other models. The results show that (1) farmland and forestland decreased significantly, with forestland showing the largest decrease (−20.65%), while construction land showed the largest increase (98.70%), mainly from farmland; (2) the overall RSEI level in Nanjing was relatively high, with a slight decline in fluctuation in the past 20 years. The RSEI values of forest land (0.8786) and farmland (0.8318) were higher, while the construction land (0.3790) and unused land (0.3701) were lower; (3) there was significant correlation (p < 0.05) and spatial autocorrelation between land-use changes and RSEI changes. The RSEI of rural areas was better than that of urban centers. There was a significant negative linear correlation between RSEI and LUCI (R2 = 0.711), a significant positive correlation with the area proportion of farmland, forest land and water, and a significant negative correlation with the area proportion of construction land. (4) Predictions indicate continued declines in farmland and forestland, accompanied by further expansion of construction areas, and the RSEI will continue to decline. It is suggested that forestland and farmland should be protected in the future, the expansion of construction land should be restrained, urban construction and ecological protection should be balanced, and the sustainable and high-quality development of rapid urbanization areas should be maintained by accurate land-use planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainability in Urban Planning and Governance)
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