Accelerating a green recovery of cities: Lessons from a scoping review and a proposal for mission-oriented recovery towards post-pandemic urban resilience

In the post-pandemic era, we must value our cities as cultural and economic centres, that are socially and environmentally diverse. This requires a transformation in the way we plan and govern our cities, but what can be learnt from the current crisis about how cities should be managed? In this article, we report on a scoping review to help identify seven lessons learnt for cities from the COVID-19 pandemic. We build on these lessons through a synthesis, outlining three urban missions that will chart a green urban recovery. The missions are to accelerate the urban mobility transition; to attain regenerative urban development; and create resilient urban infrastructure. We expand on what these missions entail, by defining six pathways that supports transition of urban mobility, energy, food, housing, health and nature. These pathways, when implemented in an integrated manner, provides a roadmap for green recovery in cities, that also builds resilience.

Automated summary

In the post-pandemic era, cities need to undergo transformation in planning and governance, learning lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve green urban recovery. By accelerating urban mobility transition, achieving regenerative urban development, and creating resilient urban infrastructure, along with defining six pathways supporting transition of urban mobility, energy, food, housing, health, and nature, a roadmap for green recovery in cities can be established that also enhances resilience.