Resource consumption and production policies for sustainable cities

Urbanisation creates challenges and opportunities to achieve economic growth, sustainable use of natural resources and resilient cities. Careful assessment of potential impacts of new policies, adequate monitoring of past decisions, and citizens’ participation are essential for achieving sustainable development. Policies to reconfigure the form and functions of cities, transition to renewable energy use, improve the use and conservation of water resources, and adequate management of waste flows could contribute to a more environmentally friendly use of resources that could support economic growth.

This report summarises policy alternatives and examples of urban resource use policies, strategies and instruments found in peer-reviewed papers and reports from multiple governmental and international agencies to inform the discussion of pathways to sustainable resource consumption in cities.