Can Cities Thrive Sustainably? Navigating the Climate Challenge for Urban Growth

Can cities grow without harming the planet? A study from ICTA-UAB in Spain dives into this tricky question. While the answer varies by location and development levels, one thing is clear: not all urban growth is sustainable or desirable.

Cities play a crucial role in tackling climate change. However, their growth often leads to serious environmental issues. New economic ideas like green growth, degrowth, and post-growth offer different perspectives, but evidence supporting their effectiveness in urban settings is still lacking.

Published in Nature Cities, this research highlights the complicated relationship between economic growth and environmental impact. It pulls insights from various fields, such as urban planning and sustainability science. The study compares three main approaches to urban growth:

• Green Growth: Focuses on technology and efficiency to minimize environmental impact.
• Degrowth: Emphasizes reducing production and consumption to protect ecosystems.
• Post-Growth: Suggests prioritizing well-being and sustainability over GDP.

Researchers explored these approaches across economic, demographic, spatial, and environmental aspects. “Our framework helps clarify how different growth forms interact and affect cities,” says Charlotte Liotta, the lead author of the study. They examined real-world cases, like Barcelona’s superblocks and Amsterdam’s doughnut model.

The study doesn’t claim there’s one right way to grow. Instead, it carefully weighs the pros and cons of each approach. “We found limited empirical evidence on whether economic growth can decouple from environmental harm,” explains co-author Jeroen van den Bergh. This suggests a degree of skepticism about the effectiveness of green urban growth.

Moreover, the study challenges some degrowth ideas that propose shrinking urban centers. It argues that large cities can be sustainable if they are well-planned. Their density can lead to benefits like better public transport and more efficient housing.

As cities expand, careful management is crucial to prevent environmental damage, such as increased emissions and loss of biodiversity. The authors advocate for a nuanced and evidence-based understanding of urban development. Solutions will vary significantly based on each city’s political, social, and environmental context.

In a world where urban areas continue to grow, the debate over how to balance that growth with environmental care will remain relevant. Insights from this study add valuable layers to our understanding, helping cities navigate their challenges in an eco-friendly way.

For a deeper dive into the findings, check out the full study: Liotta, C., van den Bergh, J. “The debate on growth versus environment at the urban scale.” Nat Cities (2025). Read more here.

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