“We are facing socio-ecological crises and failing to meet the basic needs of everyone in society whilst living within planetary boundaries. These interconnected problems… require urgent transdisciplinary efforts informed by theories of change.”

For researchers Lucinda Cash-Gibson, Ferran Muntane Isart, Eliana Martínez-Herrera, Julian Martínez Herrera and Joan Benach, cities, as dynamic ecosystems, have a key role to play in preventing and coping with these crises. These problems raise several questions that need to be explored in-depth, and require transdisciplinary analysis and thorough theoretical understanding: how can cities operate within planetary boundaries in a way that is fair and sustainable? Which processes, dynamics and determinants are involved? What policies have been planned and implemented in cities so far with the intention of achieving this? How do normative competences shape cities' capacities to directly respond to socio-ecological (unmet) needs? How can we effectively assess and compare advancements being made in different cities?

To answer these questions, the authors propose this conceptual framework for sustainable wellbeing as a tool to guide public policy design and evaluation through a systemic understanding of the relevant factors, with a particular emphasis on political determinants. To develop this framework, researchers conducted a critical review of the interdisciplinary literature on planetary wellbeing, sustainable wellbeing and development. “Our framework is systems-oriented, and integrates diverse disciplinary perspectives to emphasise relevant factors and relationships to strengthen understanding and monitoring of progress towards achieving equitable and sustainable urban environments”.

Towards a systemic understanding of sustainable wellbeing for all in cities: A conceptual framework.

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