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This briefing by RMI argues that integrating urban nature—such as forests, street trees, and bodies of water—into city planning reduces greenhouse gas emissions, lowers energy costs, and improves equity. The document highlights that the global value of urban nature's benefits is nine times the costs, and it calls for a significant increase in annual investment to reach a potential $2 trillion in annual net benefits by 2030.

This research paper explores the multi-dimensional challenges and pathways toward achieving sustainable urban development. It examines the historical evolution of global urban policy, the disparate needs between the Global North and Global South, the role of various governmental and non-governmental actors, and emerging trends such as nature-based solutions and inclusive planning.

This executive summary adapts the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report for Latin American decision-makers. It details observed warming (0.7–1°C since the 1970s) and shifting rainfall patterns that threaten water availability and food production. The report emphasizes that further warming is inevitable and highlights the need for integrated adaptation and mitigation strategies, such as sustainable urban planning and payment for ecosystem services. It concludes that international cooperation and financial support from developed countries are critical for the region to build resilience and pursue low-carbon development.

This report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and its EMBARQ network analyzes the modernization of public transport in 13 cities across Latin America and Asia. It focuses on the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, comparing their performance, costs, and operational challenges to provide a synthesis of lessons learned for urban planners in developing nations.

This document is an atlas published by the World Health Organization (WHO) that examines the impact of environmental hazards on children's health. It categorizes risks into 'traditional' hazards, such as air pollution and poor water and sanitation, and 'emerging' hazards, including chemical exposures, e-waste, and climate change. The report aligns these challenges with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advocates for multisectoral cooperation to reduce preventable child mortality and lifelong disease risks.

This guide by Energy Innovation outlines eight quantifiable urban planning principles designed to help China develop prosperous, low-carbon cities. It argues that high-density cities cannot be designed around the car and must instead prioritize public transport, walking, and bicycling to avoid gridlock, pollution, and economic stagnation.

The document argues that a new industrial revolution is emerging, driven by 'natural capitalism' and integrative design, which aims to increase resource productivity by 10- to 100-fold. The author posits that market-driven green design in human settlements—characterized by high density, pedestrian-centric transport, and resource-efficient buildings—can align commercial profitability with environmental restoration, potentially making traditional government spatial planning obsolete.