Enhancing Urban Sustainability and Well-Being in Developing Regions Facing Climate Change Impacts and Economic Constraints

A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 5018

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan
Interests: urban climate; sustainable built environment; indoor thermal comfort; building-related health risk; urban thermal environment; airflow of urban street canyon; thermal mitigation effect of urban vegetation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the rapid urbanization of developing regions has been accompanied by significant challenges related to climate change including urban heat island and economic constraints. Urban areas in these regions often face severe impacts from climate-related events such as heatwaves, flooding, and storms, exacerbating existing socio-economic vulnerabilities. The urgency to enhance urban sustainability and well-being in these contexts has never been more pronounced. This Special Issue will bring together cutting-edge research that addresses these critical issues, providing insights and solutions to improve urban resilience and quality of life in developing regions.

This Special Issue seeks to explore innovative strategies and practices that can enhance urban sustainability and well-being in developing regions. By focusing on areas particularly vulnerable to climate change and economic limitations, we aim to contribute to the broader discourse on urban resilience and sustainability. The scope of this Special Issue aligns with the journal’s commitment to advancing knowledge of urban studies, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development. We invite researchers to submit original research articles and comprehensive reviews that offer novel insights about and practical approaches to overcome these pressing challenges.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews that cover a broad range of topics related to urban sustainability and well-being are welcome. Potential themes include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Urban Climate: Investigations into urban microclimates, heat island effects, and climate adaptation strategies in urban settings;
  • Built-Environment: Studies on sustainable building practices, energy efficiency, disaster prevention, and the integration of renewable energy sources into urban infrastructure;
  • Settlement Studies: Research on the dynamics of informal settlements, including socio-economic conditions, infrastructure development, and policy interventions to improve living standards and resilience.

In this Special Issue, we will highlight both theoretical advancements and practical applications that can inform policy-making and urban planning. Submissions should contribute to our understanding of how developing regions can navigate the dual challenges of climate change and economic constraints to foster more sustainable and resilient urban environments.

I look forward to receiving your contributions and the opportunity to advance this important field of study together.

Dr. Aya Hagishima
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • urban climate change
  • urban heat island
  • urban well-being
  • developing regions
  • sustainability
  • urban health risks

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

18 pages, 299 KiB  
Review
Informal Settlements: A New Understanding for Governance and Vulnerability Study
by Christopher L. Atkinson
Urban Sci. 2024, 8(4), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8040158 - 29 Sep 2024
Viewed by 4601
Abstract
This review examines current knowledge in the literature on informal settlements, specifically those contributions that include emphases on governance and the role of public administration. Given that informal settlements task the public sector with specific challenges that test the limits of infrastructure, while [...] Read more.
This review examines current knowledge in the literature on informal settlements, specifically those contributions that include emphases on governance and the role of public administration. Given that informal settlements task the public sector with specific challenges that test the limits of infrastructure, while also presenting considerable human demands, there is a need to better understand how informal settlements and governments’ capacities to respond to such phenomena potentially deepen concerns with already vulnerable populations. After an introduction to the concept of informal settlements, the paper considers the approach to the literature review, which included an initial group of 272 papers from peer-reviewed, English-language journals, from the period 2019 to June 2024. Major themes are discussed, with opportunities for future research identified. Informal settlements are still an emerging topic within the larger land use and urban planning literature, but the significance of this research extends beyond the immediate areas of the settlements themselves to critical areas of governance and vulnerability study. Full article
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