The Challenge of (Transitioning to) Climate‑Neutral Cities by 2030
DETAILS
Call for Papers – The Challenge of (Transitioning to) Climate‑Neutral Cities by 2030
Journal: Cities
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission deadline: 15 September 2026
This special issue focuses on the urban transition to climate‑neutral cities by 2030, with particular attention to citizen engagement and city‑governance decision‑making. It invites research that explores how governance structures, participatory planning, and digital technologies can be integrated to deliver net‑zero urban strategies in areas such as urban form, mobility, urban nature, energy, and circularity in the built environment.
Types of research this SI invites
Type of research | Typical focus |
|---|---|
Empirical / experimental studies | New evidence from pilots, experiments, and comparative urban projects |
Theoretical / critical contributions | Frameworks on power, justice, and governance in climate‑neutral cities |
Case studies | In‑depth analyses of specific cities or interventions (EU Cities Mission, 100 Climate‑Neutral Cities, etc.) |
Practice‑based / applied work | Operational models, tools, and guidance for practitioners and policymakers |
Guest editors (full information)
Dr Aura Istrate, University College Dublin, Ireland, Email: aura.istrate@ucd.ie
Prof Jacopo Gaspari, University of Bologna, Italy
Prof Geraint Ellis, Queen’s University Belfast, UK
Prof Francesco Pilla, University College Dublin, Ireland
List of suggested topic areas
Governance innovations and policy reforms for climate‑neutral urban transitions
Participatory planning and citizen engagement (co‑production, citizen science, co‑design)
Digital technologies and data platforms supporting top‑down and bottom‑up climate action
Equity, justice, and unintended consequences of climate‑neutral technological interventions
Urban form, urban mobility, urban nature, and energy transitions in built environments
Circularity in cities and the role of multi‑stakeholder collaboration
Interdisciplinary studies linking engagement, decision‑making, and socio‑technical transitions
Submission information
Submissions are open from 15 March 2026 to 15 September 2026 via the journal’s Editorial Manager platform:
https://www.editorialmanager.com/JCIT
When submitting, select article type “VSI: climate‑NEWtral cities” to link your paper to the special issue.
Follow the journal’s Guide for Authors:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/cities/publish/guide-for-authors
All suitable submissions will be peer‑reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Accepted articles will be published in a regular issue of Cities and marked as part of this special issue.
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