Transforming Cities

Transforming Cities examines how urban areas can evolve by aligning growth with resilience and ecological innovation. Its core argument centres on “Transformative Growth,” urging a shift from parcel-by-parcel monetisation to landscape-led planning, from symbolic sustainability to performance-based outcomes, and from top-down control to shared stewardship. Drawing on case studies and research-driven insights, the book shows how cities can strengthen climate resilience, revitalise urban areas, and embed ecological thinking into planning practice.

The concept of transformative growth moves the debate beyond the limits of ecological modernisation and the political impracticalities of degrowth. It redefines urban prosperity within planetary boundaries, placing ecological innovation, resilience, and civic participation at the centre of future development. By reframing productivity to include ecological health, social inclusion, and technological capability, the book offers a grounded yet ambitious pathway for reimagining cities in a rapidly changing world.


Ali Cheshmehzangi is Professor and Head of School of Architecture, Design and Planning, The University of Queensland, and Adjunct Professor at Hunan University, with extended research experience in urban sustainability and urban transitions. He has more than 55 academic books and is Editor-in-Chief of the Urban Sustainability book series.

May Tan-Mullins is a political ecologist and passionate advocate for sustainability. She is the Provost and CEO of the University of Reading Malaysia. May’s research interests span the political ecology of rising China, environmental and energy justice, poverty alleviation, and building resilience for marginalized communities against climate change.

Martin de Jong is Scientific Director of the Erasmus Initiative 'Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity', one of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) flagship research initiatives. Drawing on 25 years’ international experience, he aims to build a locally relevant Randstad initiative with global partnerships and exposure.

Rob Raven is an interdisciplinary scholar, professor of sustainability transitions and deputy director (research) at Monash Sustainable Development Institute. He has won more than AUD$ 18M research funds. His current research is focused on the analysis of transformative change in urban contexts such as smart, sustainable, and net-zero cities.