International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development aims to provide a forum for cutting edge research and rigorous debate for in-depth and holistic understanding of the complex inter-related environmental, social, economic, political, spatial, institutional and physical challenges facing urban areas. Its premise is that multi-disciplinary approaches provide the space for the range of disciplines and perspectives related to the full breadth of issues that affect urban sustainable development.

The journal also aims to enhance knowledge and understanding of the two-way interactions between urbanization processes and patterns and environmental changes at the local, regional, and global scales.  In addition to mitigation and adaptation concerns these also include related social and economic issues such as the impacts of globalisation and financial crises, evidence-based liveability versus utopian planning principles, restoring dignity to the marginalized beyond mere participation, environmental justice and sustainable resource utilisation. The Journal, thus, seeks to connect theory and practice in ways that are useful to academics, policy makers, community activists and professionals who are concerned with or engaged in building and governing cities in ways that enhance environmental viability and foster urban equity and well being and engender economic vibrancy and political accountability.

International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development is fully peer reviewed. It publishes original research and review papers. It also includes important think pieces and position papers by prominent scholars and practitioners in the broader field of urban sustainable development. It has a global reach covering cities and towns of different sizes, cultures and economies in the North and the South. It strives to bring together views and experience from industrially developed, developing and transition countries for mutual learning. Authors from developing and transition economies are particularly encouraged to submit papers.