Cities in Transition

The 'Cities in Transition' research argues that meeting emissions targets requires more than transitioning to renewables; it necessitates a reduction in total energy demand through urban planning. Using the city of Winnipeg as a focus, the study employs the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology to show that compact, walkable, and mixed-use infill development reduces emissions and municipal infrastructure costs compared to car-oriented sprawl. The research identifies three primary barriers to this transition: NIMBY opposition to infill, outdated governance models, and the high financial costs associated with urban sprawl.

• Achieving ambitious emissions reduction targets cannot be accomplished solely by transitioning fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewables; it requires a reduction in overall energy demand through the redesign of neighbourhoods.
• Using the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology, the research found that sustainable urban forms, such as compact, mixed-use infill and investments in public transit and active transportation, lower infrastructure and service costs for city governments while reducing emissions.
• In Winnipeg, the transition to sustainable, complete communities is hindered by three main structural barriers: outdated municipal governance, the high financial cost of car-centric sprawl, and 'Not In My Backyard' (NIMBY) opposition to infill development.

APA

Cheng,, Z. R. B. K. E.-H. (2025). Cities in Transition. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cities-transition-urban-planning-energy-policy

Chicago

Cheng,, Zachary Rempel,Ronja Bechauf,Michail Kapetanakis,Georgia Exell,Yung-Hsin. Cities in Transition. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cities-transition-urban-planning-energy-policy.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cheng, |first1=Zachary Rempel,Ronja Bechauf,Michail Kapetanakis,Georgia Exell,Yung-Hsin |title=Cities in Transition |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=23 April 2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cities-transition-urban-planning-energy-policy |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cheng2025cities, author = {Cheng,, Zachary Rempel,Ronja Bechauf,Michail Kapetanakis,Georgia Exell,Yung-Hsin}, title = {{Cities in Transition}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cities-transition-urban-planning-energy-policy}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }