A special issue at DESIGNS is published as an ebook, edited by Tony Castillo-Calzadilla and Carlos Quesada-Granja. This collection of articles explores the forefront of sustainable urbanism, where city districts generate more renewable energy than they consume, and presents a blueprint for positive energy districts (PEDs), core building blocks of climate-neutral cities.

The ebook bridges theory and practice, revealing how technology, Continue reading →

As cities seek to achieve carbon neutrality, the integration of nature-based solutions (NBSs) with renewable energy sources (RESs) presents both an opportunity and a challenge, requiring an interdisciplinary approach and an innovative planning strategy. This paper published in Designs 2025, 9(3), 60, Special Issue on Positive Energy Districts, aims to explore potential ways of achieving synergies between NBSs and RESs that contribute to urban climate neutrality. Continue reading →

A new open-access paper on carbon-neutral smart cities published in World Development. The paper delves into the current EU policy and strategy for advancing smart carbon–neutral development across Europe, as outlined by the EU Cities Mission, which aims to boost climate neutrality across 112 cities by 2030. Primary objective of the paper is to explore synergies between theoretical concepts and their practical application in realising smart carbon–neutral development. We examine the challenges associated with scaling up this type of development alongside the systemic changes required to achieve significant levels for mitigation and adaptation. Continue reading →

MOBI-TWIN, a Horizon Europe project dedicated to unraveling the dynamics of spatial mobility under the digital and green transition and its significant impact on European Union regions. The project aims to comprehend the intricate patterns of mobility and leverage this knowledge to foster regional governance and prosperity.

Continue reading →