Urban Ecolution

Foreword to the 2025 Edition of Urban Ecolution

A decade ago, Urban Ecolution introduced a pioneering approach to urban sustainability that challenged the conventional frameworks of the time. Published in early 2015, it anticipated many of the ideas later encapsulated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted later that year. In particular, this work aligns almost hellseherisch—prophetically—with SDG 11: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.”

At its core, Urban Ecolution sought to redefine cities as dynamic ecological systems, breaking away from siloed approaches to urban challenges. Its innovative Urban Ecolution Generator encourages readers—urban experts and enthusiasts alike—to think beyond traditional boundaries and explore interconnected solutions for urban resilience, inclusivity, and ecological integration. This holistic vision resonates deeply with the objectives of SDG 11 and beyond, prioritising the balance between human wellbeing and environmental stewardship.

The urgency of addressing urban challenges has only grown since this book’s initial publication. Climate crises, rapid urbanisation, and increasing social inequities demand bold, system-based solutions. Urban Ecolution continues to provide a vital framework for tackling these issues by focusing on the tangible and intangible elements of urban systems, from energy and water flows to health, community networks, and ecological harmony.

Since 2015, cities across the globe have embraced many of the principles outlined in this work, integrating nature-based solutions, circular economies, and regenerative design into their urban strategies. Yet, the need for collective action remains paramount. Urban Ecolution anticipated this necessity, highlighting the importance of participation from all stakeholders—governments, communities, private enterprises, and individuals. The collaborative platform urbanecolution.org, envisioned as an extension of the book, has since become a thriving hub for shared knowledge, real-world applications, and innovative solutions.

This 2025 edition introduces the addition of a Chinese/Mandarin translation. As the global conversation around urban sustainability grows, this translation ensures that the ideas and methodologies of Urban Ecolution can reach and inspire a broader audience, particularly in China and other Mandarin-speaking regions where urban transformation is occurring at an unprecedented scale. The inclusion of this translation underscores the universal relevance of this work and its potential to catalyse change across diverse cultural and geographical contexts.

Looking back, the alignment between Urban Ecolution and the SDGs, especially SDG 11, is remarkable. Looking forward, the strategies and methodologies outlined in this book remain vital for shaping inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban futures.

As you explore this edition, we hope it inspires you to innovate, collaborate, and contribute to the vision of ecologically integrated cities. With the addition of the Mandarin translation, we are confident that this work will continue to empower people around the world to drive meaningful urban transformation.

Joerg Baumeister & Daniela A. Ottmann
January 2025