Dear colleagues,
The Sustaible Urban Systems (SUS) board is runing a special issue on the journal Sustianable Production and Consumption (IF=9.6). You are welcome to submit your relevant research to our special issue.
Sustainable Urban Transitions
Submission deadline: 15 March 2026
Cities, where production and consumption activities are concentrated, play a critical role in achieving multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the world urbanizes, cities are shaping societies and the environment on a global scale. However, as cities expand and evolve, they face a series of intertwined challenges related to sustainable production, responsible consumption, social development, and environmental conservation. This demands an urgent and effective transition toward sustainability.
The challenges are multifaceted for cities at different stages. Emerging cities grapple with the pressures of rapid population growth, while managing the complexities of accelerated economic development, social inequality, and many eco-environmental issues. Legacy and shrinking cities struggle with urban renewal with new socio-economic realities. Cities are generally dealing with increasing social inequity and social fragmentation. Social inequity exacerbates existing environmental vulnerabilities, while creating a pressing need for just and inclusive urban transitions. To tackle these challenges, scientific advancement in sustainable urban transitions is needed to provide robust scientific support for cities and regional governments’ decision-making.
This special issue seeks to foster interdisciplinary research that explores innovative pathways towards sustainable urban futures. It aims to provide a platform for cutting-edge research that addresses these critical issues and offers actionable insights for urban policymakers and practitioners.
We invite submissions focusing on but not limited to the following themes:
Urban Net-Zero Emission Transitions and SDG Linkages:
- Investigating strategies for decarbonizing urban systems, including energy, transportation, buildings, and waste sectors.
- Analyzing the synergies and trade-offs between climate action and the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in urban contexts.
- Exploring the role of technological innovation, policy instruments, and behavioral change in facilitating net-zero transitions.
Urban Food Systems and Sustainability:
- Exploring urban agriculture and local food production as a method to increase sustainability.
- Analyzing innovative food waste management within urban areas.
- Examining the impact of urban food systems on environmental and public health.
Urban Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services:
- Exploring the importance of urban biodiversity for ecosystem services and human well-being.
- Analyzing the impacts of urbanization on urban ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Developing strategies for conserving and enhancing urban biodiversity.
Environmental and ecological impacts of the urban circular bioeconomy:
- Urban-rural linkages and extended supply chains in the urban bioeconomy.
- Synergies and trade-offs of resource and environmental impacts associated with urban bioeconomy.
- Socio-economic impacts and rural development in the urban bioeconomy.
Socio-Technical Transition Pathways Focusing on Cities:
- Analyzing the interplay between technological innovation and social change in driving urban transitions.
- Exploring the potential of smart city technologies, circular economy principles, and innovative business models to promote sustainability.
- Investigating the social equity implications of technological advancements in urban environments.
Local Governance Promoting Transitions to Sustainability:
- Examining the role of urban governance structures, policies, and planning frameworks in fostering sustainable development.
- Analyzing the effectiveness of participatory governance approaches and multi-stakeholder partnerships in driving urban transitions.
- Exploring the challenges and opportunities of integrating sustainability considerations into urban decision-making processes.
This special issue is launched by the International Society for Industrial Ecology Sustainable Urban Systems section.
Guest editors:
- Kangkang Tong (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China)
- Yuli Shan (University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK)
- Benjamin Goldstein (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA)
- Thomas Elliot (Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark)
- Amy Brooks (University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA)
Manuscript submission information:
- Submission Open Date: 15/08/2025
- Final Manuscript Submission Deadline: 15/03/2026
We invite submission of original research articles and reviews on the abovementioned and other topics related to “Sustainable Urban Transitions”. All papers will be published as soon as they are accepted.
All manuscripts should be submitted at https://www.editorialmanager.com/spc/.
Please select “VSI: Sustainable Urban Transitions” during the submission process. For more information about the journal, its scope, and guidelines for authors please visit Sustainable Production and Consumption | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier.
For any queries related to the special issue, including the suitability of the paper for the journal, please contact Prof. Kangkang Tong (kk.tong@sjtu.edu.cn) and Prof. Yuli Shan (y.shan@bham.ac.uk).
Best regards,
Yuli Shan on behalf of SUS board
