Recent Studies on Climate-Neutral Districts and Cities

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the urgency of transitioning to climate-neutral urban areas has catalyzed significant advancements in research and practice. Climate-neutral districts and cities aim to eliminate or offset greenhouse gas emissions while promoting sustainable and resilient urban ecosystems. This topic gathers recent studies on innovative approaches, policies, and technologies aimed at achieving climate neutrality in urban settings. By exploring diverse strategies—from renewable energy integration and circular economies to green infrastructure and community engagement—this issue provides insights into the pathways that cities worldwide are adopting to reduce their carbon footprint. Together, these contributions highlight the collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts needed to reshape our urban environments toward a more sustainable and climate-resilient future. This multidisciplinary topic covers but is not restricted to:

• Renewable Energy Systems for Urban Areas
• Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transportation
• Green Infrastructure and Nature-based Solutions
• Circular Economy and Waste Management 
• Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Urban Design 
• Digitalization and Data management
• Artificial Intelligence for Smart Cities
• Climate Policy, Governance, and Community Engagement
• Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change
• Socioeconomic Impacts and Equity in Climate-neutral Cities
• Urban Agriculture and Food Systems

Prof. Dr. Xingxing Zhang
Dr. Rosaria Volpe
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Buildings buildings	3.1	3.4	2011	15.3 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Energies energies	3.0	6.2	2008	16.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Smart Cities smartcities	7.0	11.2	2018	28.4 Days	CHF 2000	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	19.7 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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All Buildings Energies Smart Cities Sustainability

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17 pages, 1030 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Renovation Practices in Decision-Making for Multi-Family Buildings

by Alaa Khadra, Jan Akander and Jonn Are Myhren

Smart Cities 2025, 8(2), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8020063 - 8 Apr 2025

Viewed by 185

Abstract

Energy-efficient renovation of the existing building stock is essential for achieving the ambitious sustainability goals set by the European Commission for 2030. However, implementing sustainable renovation has proven challenging, as numerous studies have concluded. Multi-family buildings are a significant part of Sweden’s building [...] Read more.

Energy-efficient renovation of the existing building stock is essential for achieving the ambitious sustainability goals set by the European Commission for 2030. However, implementing sustainable renovation has proven challenging, as numerous studies have concluded. Multi-family buildings are a significant part of Sweden’s building stock and require renovations to meet energy efficiency standards. This study aims to provide an overview of sustainable renovation practices in Sweden’s multi-family buildings. A semi-open structured questionnaire was developed to examine the adoption of these practices, with data collected from 11 housing companies. The responses reveal that Swedish housing companies are well aware of the three key aspects of sustainability and actively consider them in their renovation projects. Notably, specific energy use and investment costs are the most commonly used methods for evaluating the environmental and economic aspects, respectively. However, there is a lack of a common method for assessing the social aspects of renovation projects. Additionally, this study highlights the need for standardized decision-making tools in multi-family building renovations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Recent Studies on Climate-Neutral Districts and Cities)

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33 pages, 6752 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Geographic Information System Based Site Selection for NSW’s Renewable Energy Zones: Addressing SDG 7

by Adiba Islam, Sara Shirowzhan and Christopher J. Pettit

Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2708; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062708 - 19 Mar 2025

Viewed by 606

Abstract

The augmentation of clean energy usage is necessary to achieve Australia’s net zero emission target. New South Wales has proposed renewable energy zones (REZs) to align with this target and aims to retire coal-based energy production plants. Site selection criteria for REZs are [...] Read more.

The augmentation of clean energy usage is necessary to achieve Australia’s net zero emission target. New South Wales has proposed renewable energy zones (REZs) to align with this target and aims to retire coal-based energy production plants. Site selection criteria for REZs are more focused on technical and economic benefits rather than social and environmental considerations. This study aims to create a comprehensive suitability of optimal locations for renewable energy production that will minimize social disruption and maximize production rates, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 7. To approach this gap, this study adopted a GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation method to combine understated variables such as agriculture and farmland, Aboriginal heritage, and natural conservation. Literature reviews have helped to weigh criteria based on their priority to social, economic, and environmental benefits, supporting both government targets and community concerns. This research explores the use of flexible criteria weighing in the context of a collaborative geo-design framework. This evidenced-based approach aims to assist planners in advocating for current legislation and developing strategies for coordination among private and government agencies, environmental groups, and stakeholders to minimize land-use conflicts. This study found that conducting land suitability analysis using a geo-design framework offers a collaborative strategy that can assist in mapping areas of significance for preserving community and environmental integrity. Such a collaborative approach can improve stakeholder participation in the decision-making process, with a particular focus on reaching net-zero emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Recent Studies on Climate-Neutral Districts and Cities)

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