Urban Sustainability Framework

The Urban Sustainability Framework (USF) is a practical tool developed by the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC) to help cities plan, finance, and implement integrated sustainability strategies. Designed for policymakers and practitioners, the USF supports cities in moving beyond sector-by-sector planning toward a holistic approach that balances economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion. At its core, the USF helps cities answer three fundamental questions: Where are we now? Where do we want to go? How do we get

26 February 2026

Climate

The city-industry-climate nexus: Cities as engines of global net-zero transitions in a shifting world

By 2050, almost two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities, which already consume most of the world’s energy and emit the majority of greenhouse gases. This makes urban areas central to both the causes of climate change and the solutions. The white paper argues that decarbonizing cities is not only environmental policy, but a strategic industrial agenda. It introduces the “city-industry-climate nexus,” where infrastructure, production systems, value chains, and climate action converge. Cities host the industries that supply

Report03 December 2025