Sustainability Strategies in Urban and Rural Communities
Keywords:
community sustainability, rural development, urban development, circular economy, citizen participation.Abstract
The sustainability of urban and rural communities constitutes a multidimensional challenge associated with climate change, environmental degradation, territorial inequality, food security, energy access, waste management, and citizen participation. This scoping review aimed to identify, organise, and analyse the main sustainability strategies implemented in urban and rural communities, considering their environmental, social, economic, territorial, and institutional dimensions. The methodological guidance of the Joanna Briggs Institute and the PRISMA-ScR reporting criteria were followed. The research question was formulated using the PCC framework: population or participants, communities and local stakeholders; concept, sustainability strategies; and context, urban and rural territories. Searches were planned in Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and Google Scholar, considering studies published between 2015 and 2024 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The thematic synthesis identified six major groups of strategies: nature-based solutions, community energy transition, circular economy and waste management, sustainable food systems, participatory governance, and urban–rural integration. The evidence indicates that the most consistent interventions combine environmental innovation, community participation, social inclusion, institutional strengthening, and adaptation to territorial characteristics. Furthermore, gaps were identified concerning longitudinal evaluation, the equitable distribution of benefits, and the limited representation of Latin American communities in the most recent available scientific evidence. It is concluded that community sustainability does not depend on isolated actions, but on integrated processes linking natural resources, infrastructure, local capabilities, governance, and territorial justice.
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