reported using green spaces for relaxation more often than before the pandemic. At the same time, the crisis exposed vulnerabilities—from supply chain disruptions to housing insecurities—forcing cities to rethink their infrastructure, governance and preparedness. While some local governments implemented temporary policies to create safer streets and expand pedestrian zones, the long-term question remains: will cities commit to making these adaptations permanent? While much attention is given to the role of cities in tackling climate change, urban resilience cannot be considered in isolation. Rem Koolhaas’ Countryside. A Report (2020) challenges the dominant urban-centric perspective, arguing that the future of sustainability depends on rethinking the relationship between cities and the countryside. Often dismissed as peripheral, the countryside plays a fundamental role in global sustainability—acting as a source of food production, resource extraction, biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration. As urban populations grow, cities remain dependent on rural areas for everything from energy supply to waste management, yet policies often fail to account for this interdependence. Koolhaas highlights how radical sustainability experiments— such as AI-driven agriculture, rewilding and off-grid energy solutions—are already taking shape outside of dense urban environments. This book, while focusing on the urban landscape, acknowledges that resilient and sustainable cities must engage with these broader ecological systems rather than operate in isolation. These disruptions have accelerated the conversation around urban sustainability, resilience and equitable development, reinforcing the need for cities to adopt integrated approaches that combine architecture, technology, policy and community engagement. Previous urban planning models often worked in silos, with sustainability initiatives failing to integrate social equity, or climate action plans being developed separately from public health policies. To avoid these fragmented responses, cities must take a more holistic approach—one that embeds resilience across multiple sectors and prioritises long-term systemic change over short-term fixes. This book responds to this critical moment by bringing together research from multiple disciplines to explore how urban environments can evolve in the face of global challenges. Through case studies from New York, Nottingham, Chengdu, Catania and Harbin, it not only seeks to understand these challenges but also provides a practical roadmap for cities to become sustainable, adaptable, inclusive and prepared for the complexities of the 21st century. A Roadmap for Sustainable and Resilient Cities The book is structured into five key sections, each addressing key aspects of urban climate resilience, sustainability and adaptation. Section 1: Urban Sustainability, Climate Resilience & Adaptation Strategies explores broad sustainability themes, focusing on resilience planning, climate adaptation and urban vulnerability. It includes studies on climate-responsive urban planning, environmental justice and strategies for integrating socio-demographic data into heat vulnerability assessments. Case studies, such as those on climate gentrification in Miami and the influence of street tree growth on pedestrian thermal comfort in Harbin, provide valuable insights into the overlapping challenges of urban development, climate risk and social equity.
