Planning

Urban planning provides the framework for sustainable city transformation. It aligns land use, infrastructure, housing, mobility, and environmental systems through integrated, data-driven strategies. Embedding climate resilience, biodiversity, and inclusivity into planning ensures that urban growth reduces emissions, protects ecosystems, and delivers equitable access to opportunities for all residents.

 

Urban planning provides the structure for sustainable development. It aligns land use, infrastructure, and environmental systems to ensure cities grow efficiently and equitably. Integrated planning brings together multiple sectors—transport, housing, energy, and nature—to reduce emissions, enhance resilience, and deliver opportunities for all. Strategic planning helps cities anticipate change and shape a sustainable future rather than react to it.

 

Explore more resources in the GPSC Knowledge Products, featuring case studies, toolkits, and technical guidance from cities around the world. Use the filters and categories to navigate by theme or topic and find content tailored to your city’s priorities.

Upcoming Events
View all

Online

What a Waste 3.0: Global Trends, Data, and Solutions for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management Towards Circularity

16 September 2026, 8:00 ET

Discover the key findings of What a Waste 3.0, the World Bank's flagship report on municipal solid waste management, and explore its implications for sustainable cities
Related content
View all
Planning

COVID-19 Pandemic and Sustainable Urban Transformation: Perspectives on City-Level Actions and a Framework for the Future

COVID‑19 exposed cities’ vulnerabilities but spurred integrated responses; this paper outlines a framework for resilient and inclusive transformation.
Knowledge Product

Learn more
Planning

GEF-6 Sustainable Cities IAP Program: Emerging Lessons from the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities

The report shares lessons from the Sustainable Cities program, showing how integrated planning and knowledge exchange support urban transformation.
Knowledge Product

Learn more
Planning

A Review of Integrated Urban Planning Tools for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

The report reviews how four integrated urban‑planning levers can model and maximize cities’ greenhouse‑gas mitigation potential.
Knowledge Product

Learn more