Transforming cities for sustainability

Every city is unique in its history, community, and sustainability challenges. Transformation toward positive urban futures requires thoughtful, collaborative action from all sectors and local communities. Climate change, population growth and rapid urbanisation pose particularly significant threats to the sustainability and resilience of cities; however, most urban planning and resource service delivery strategies, including water and energy, reflect 20th century practices that are no longer suitable for our increasingly complex and uncertain world. Recognition of these interconnected problems has inspired new ways to manage our cities for sustainability. These embrace emerging technology and nature-based solutions, adopt flexible, adaptive infrastructure, and support engaged, socially resilient communities

This unit introduces you to key principles of the Net Zero emissions and Water Sensitive Cities (WSC) paradigms, drawing on Monash University’s leading international research and practice in both areas. Together with principles of social innovation, these provide powerful guiding frameworks for rethinking our urban landscapes. In this unit, you will learn creative futuring methods to envision radically transformed sustainable cities, and devise place-based approaches and innovative pathways to achieve them. Integrating insights from social sciences, strategic foresight, urban planning, engineering, ecology and design, the unit will expand what you think is possible. You will encounter real-world urban innovations on Monash’s ‘living laboratory’ campus, meet industry experts, and learn how to apply tools and strategies to influence positive change in your chosen career context.