Socio-Economic Development and Eco-Education for Urban Planning Committed to Sustainability

Ana Cano-Ortiz, Carmelo Maria Musarella and Eusebio Cano ()
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Ana Cano-Ortiz: Departmentof Didactics of Experimental, Social and Mathematical Sciences, University of Complutense (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Carmelo Maria Musarella: Department of AGRARIA, “Mediterranea” University of Reggio Calabria, Loc. Feo di Vito snc, I-89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
Eusebio Cano: Departmentof Animal and Plant Biology and Ecology Section of Botany, University of Jaen, Campus Universitario Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaen, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-23

Abstract: The rapid pace of technological advancement presents cities with emerging socio-economic and environmental challenges. Drastic climate change threatens the viability of biologically comfortable environments, compelling urban areas to adapt to new conditions. This adaptation necessitates the implementation of various strategies to maintain the population’s well-being, including mitigating climate change effects, which are characterized by rising average temperatures and prolonged droughts. Addressing critical issues such as water scarcity and extreme temperatures—particularly in Mediterranean regions, where summer temperatures can reach 48–50 °C—requires substantial energy consumption, which must be met through clean energy sources to reduce carbon emissions. Decarbonization efforts must be accompanied by the restructuring of urban green spaces, the expansion of peri-urban parks, and large-scale reforestation to enhance carbon sequestration. These measures, combined with the adoption of clean energy, would mitigate the impact of elevated CO 2 concentrations. In urban areas, the restructuring of green spaces should prioritize biodiversity through the use of native, water-efficient species while avoiding non-native, potentially invasive plants. Furthermore, societal engagement is essential in achieving these objectives, with the education system playing a pivotal role in fostering environmental awareness and promoting collective action.

Keywords: learning; education; management; knowledge; societies; agriculture; natural spaces (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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