Resilient and Energy-Efficient Cities: Urban Planning for Climate Adaptation and Sustainable Development

Urbanization is rapidly transforming landscapes, increasing energy demand and altering local climates. The relationship between land use planning, energy efficiency and thermal comfort is becoming a critical issue in the context of climate change and extreme weather events. The design of urban spaces affects energy consumption patterns, urban overheating and overall resilience to climate variability. The integration of sustainable land-use strategies with energy-efficient urban design is essential. Cross-border cooperation in urban planning and climate adaptation can provide innovative solutions tailored to different environmental, social and economic contexts. Technological advancements such as remote sensing, GIS-based and numerical atmospheric modelling and data-driven urban analytics offer powerful tools for assessing and mitigating the impacts of urbanization on energy demand and thermal comfort.

This Research Topic aims to explore interdisciplinary approaches to urban planning that enhance energy efficiency, improve microclimatic conditions, and promote sustainable urban development. Given the growing challenges posed by climate change and rapid urbanization, innovative planning strategies are crucial for creating resilient cities. We welcome Original Research and Review Articles that address novel methodologies, policies and strategies for integrating urban planning with energy efficiency and climate adaptation. Contributions may include case studies, modeling approaches, policy analyses, and technological innovations that support sustainable urban growth while mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing urban resilience in diverse contexts.

Submissions may include, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Urban morphology and energy efficiency: investigating how land use patterns, density and urban design influence energy consumption and climate resilience.
• Smart urban planning for microclimate optimization: approaches to mitigate UHI effects through green infrastructure, reflective materials and optimized urban layouts.
• Remote sensing and geospatial modelling: using satellite imagery, drones and GIS tools to monitor urban thermal dynamics, land cover changes and their impact on energy demand.
• Cross-regional studies and case analyses: comparative studies between different urban environments, focusing on adaptive urban planning strategies.
• Integration of renewable energy in urban planning: assessing the role of solar energy potential, energy-efficient buildings and decentralized energy networks in reducing urban heat stress.
• Artificial intelligence and data analytics for urban climate resilience: machine learning applications for predictive modelling of energy demand and urban climate adaptation.
• Policy and governance frameworks: strategies for integrating land use planning with energy policies and climate action plans at local and international levels.
• Urban resilience to risks in the context of climate change: development strategies for operationalizing the resilience of today's and tomorrow's cities.
• The resilience of built environments in urban areas facing the challenges of climate change and its socioeconomic, cultural, health, and displacement impacts.
• Resilience and adaptation of extreme environments: between ancestral urban strategies and modern urban planning.

We encourage contributions from urban planners, climate scientists, geographers, engineers, policymakers and environmental researchers. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this collection seeks to advance knowledge on how urban land use planning can balance energy efficiency, climate adaptation and human well-being in a rapidly changing world.

Keywords: Urban resilience, Energy-efficient urban planning, Climate adaptation, Urban overheating mitigation, Remote sensing and numerical modelling

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.